Word Study
whine
CIDE DICTIONARY
whine, v. i. [OE. whinen, AS. hwīnan to make a whistling, whizzing sound; akin to Icel. hvīna, Sw. hvina, Dan. hvine, and probably to G. wiehern to neigh, OHG. wih, hweij; perhaps of imitative origin. Cf. Whinny, v. i. ].
To utter a plaintive cry, as some animals; to moan with a childish noise; to complain, or to tell of sorrow, distress, or the like, in a plaintive, nasal tone; hence, to complain or to beg in a mean, unmanly way; to moan basely. Spenser. [1913 Webster]
"The hounds were . . . staying their coming, but with a whining accent, craving liberty." [1913 Webster]
"Dost thou come here to whine?" [1913 Webster]
whine, v. t.
To utter or express plaintively, or in a mean, unmanly way; as, to whine out an excuse. [1913 Webster]
whine, n.
A plaintive tone; the nasal, childish tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
whine, n. & v.
--n.
1 a complaining long-drawn wail as of a dog.
2 a similar shrill prolonged sound.
3 a a querulous tone. b an instance of feeble or undignified complaining.
--v.
1 intr. emit or utter a whine.
2 intr. complain in a querulous tone or in a feeble or undignified way.
3 tr. utter in a whining tone.
--n.
1 a complaining long-drawn wail as of a dog.
2 a similar shrill prolonged sound.
3 a a querulous tone. b an instance of feeble or undignified complaining.
--v.
1 intr. emit or utter a whine.
2 intr. complain in a querulous tone or in a feeble or undignified way.
3 tr. utter in a whining tone.
Derivative
whiner n. whiningly adv. whiny adj. (whinier, whiniest).
Etymology
OE hwinan
THESAURUS
whine
bark, bawl, bay, bell, bellow, blare, blat, blate, bleat, blubber, boom, bray, breathe, buzz, cackle, call, caterwaul, chant, chirp, coo, creak, crow, cry, dolorous tirade, drawl, exclaim, flute, fuss, gasp, give tongue, give voice, groan, growl, grunt, hiss, howl, jeremiad, keen, kick, lament, lilt, low, meow, mew, mewl, miaow, moan, moo, mumble, murmur, mutter, neigh, nicker, outcry, pant, pipe, plaint, planctus, pule, repine, roar, rumble, screak, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, sibilate, sigh, sing, skirl, skreigh, snap, snarl, snort, sob, sough, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, thunder, tirade, troat, trumpet, twang, ululate, ululation, wail, wail of woe, warble, whicker, whimper, whinny, whisper, whistle, wrawl, yammer, yap, yawl, yawp, yell, yelp, yip, yowlROGET THESAURUS
whine
Lamentation
N lament, lamentation, wail, complaint, plaint, murmur, mutter, grumble, groan, moan, whine, whimper, sob, sigh, suspiration, heaving, deep sigh, cry, scream, howl, outcry, wail of woe, ululation, frown, scowl, tear, weeping, flood of tears, fit of crying, lacrimation, lachrymation, melting mood, weeping and gnashing of teeth, plaintiveness, languishment, condolence, mourning, weeds, willow, cypress, crape, deep mourning, sackcloth and ashes, lachrymatory, knell, deep death song, dirge, coronach, nenia, requiem, elegy, epicedium, threne, monody, threnody, jeremiad, jeremiade, ullalulla, mourner, grumbler, Noobe, Heraclitus, lamenting, in mourning, in sackcloth and ashes, sorrowing, sorrowful, mournful, tearful, lachrymose, plaintive, plaintful, querulous, querimonious, in the melting mood, threnetic, in tears, with tears in one's eyes, with moistened eyes, with watery eyes, bathed in tears, dissolved in tears, like Niobe all tears, elegiac, epicedial, de profundis, les larmes aux yeux, Int, heigh-ho!, alas!, alack!, O dear!, ah me!, woe is me!, lackadaisy!, well a day!, lack a day!, alack a day!, wellaway!, alas the day!, O tempora O mores!, what a pity!, miserabile dictu!, O lud lud!, too true!, tears standing in the eyes, tears starting from the eyes, eyes suffused, eyes swimming, eyes brimming, eyes overflowing with tears, if you have tears prepare to shed them now, interdum lacrymae pondera vocis habent, strangled his language in his tears, tears such as angels weep.VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.
Cry
VB cry, roar, shout, bawl, brawl, halloo, halloa, hoop, whoop, yell, bellow, howl, scream, screech, screak, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal, squall, whine, pule, pipe, yaup, cheer, hoot, grumble, moan, groan, snore, snort, grunt, vociferate, raise up the voice, lift up the voice, call out, sing out, cry out, exclaim, rend the air, thunder at the top of one's voice, shout at the top of one's voice, shout at the pitch of one's breath, thunder at the pitch of one's breath, s'_egosiller, strain the throat, strain the voice, strain the lungs, give a cry.For further exploring for "whine" in Webster Dictionary Online
