noun
- plural of keening; loud, prolonged cries of grief or lamentation, especially as part of a funeral ritual
Usage: often associated with Irish and Scottish funeral traditions; can refer to the act of wailing or the wails themselves
Examples
- The keenings echoed through the village as mourners gathered at the funeral.
- In traditional Irish culture, keenings were an important part of the wake ceremony.
- Her keenings expressed the depth of her sorrow over the loss.
- The haunting keenings could be heard from the cemetery.
- Ancient keenings were often performed by professional mourners at significant funerals.