cry

Where does the word "cry" come from? It comes from Latin quiritare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Cry’s story begins in Latin: quiritare meant “to wail, cry out.” Said to mean 'to call on the Quirites', Roman citizens, for help. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as crier. A town crier shouted public announcements. It reached English by 1200s as cry. The sense 'to weep' grew from the noise of weeping. Today, cry means to shed tears; to shout loudly.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quiritare "to wail, cry out", said to mean 'to call on the Quirites', Roman citizens, for help.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval crier "to shout", a town crier shouted public announcements.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s cry "to shout", the sense 'to weep' grew from the noise of weeping.