scream English · revision 7320

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1175}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /skɹiːm/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English screamen, earlier scræmen (about 1175) and shreamen,^(Barnhart 1988) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) It may continue an unrecorded Old English verb, or come from a related Middle Dutch or Old Frisian word;^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) compare Old Norse [[m|non|skræma|t=to terrify, scare away]] and skramsa, to scream, Middle Dutch schremen and Flemish schreemen, to scream.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The AHD suggests a Scandinavian origin.^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To utter a shrill, piercing cry: about 1175 as scræmen in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) before 1200 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of birds and beasts making their shrill cry, the verb is from about 1340,^(OED 1989) and of inanimate things, such as fiddle music, from 1784.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, a piercing cry, is from about 1500 in Etymonline and before 1460 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A cause of laughter, a very amusing person or thing, is colloquial from 1888.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The sense to communicate something strongly is by 1957.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – scræmen, to cry shrilly.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1340 – of birds and beasts.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1460 – the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1784 – of inanimate things.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – an amusing person or thing.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a long, loud, piercing [[cry]], as from [[pain]] or [[fear]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a loud, piercing sound.^(AHD)

+ # To speak or shout in a wild or [[hysterical]] manner.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To laugh wildly.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A long, loud, piercing cry or sound.^(AHD)

+ # ''(informal)'' A person or thing that is very funny.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[screamingly]]

+ * [[primal scream]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shriek]]

+ * [[screech]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD distinguishes scream, which suggests a prolonged cry showing suffering or strong emotion, from shriek and screech, which are shriller.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}