📜 Definition
To scream shrilly: To produce a high-pitched, piercing cry or shout, often associated with distress or alarm.
🌟 Related and Similar Terms
- Shriek
- Definition: A high-pitched scream.
- Synonyms: Screech, yowl, howl.
- Antonyms: Whisper, murmur.
- Yell
- Definition: A loud, sharp cry of pain or excitement.
- Synonyms: Shout, holler, bellow.
- Antonyms: Quiet, silence.
- Screech
- Definition: A harsh, high-pitched sound.
- Synonyms: Squeal, squawk, shrill.
- Antonyms: Hum, drone.
📖 Related Expressions and Idioms
- Cry out with a voice that could shatter glass
- Meaning: A metaphor for an extremely high-pitched or loud scream.
- Pierce the air
- Meaning: To make a sound so loud that it seems to tear through the environment.
- Wail like a banshee
- Meaning: To scream or cry loudly and distressingly, similar to the folkloric banshee’s warning cry.
🧠 Thought-Provoking Quotes
“The banshee’s wail is not just a sound, but a herald of tales yet untold.” – Phantasia MacScreecher
“To scream like a banshee is to channel the echoes of another world.” – M. Y. Thergeist
📚 Suggested Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Books:
- Faeries & Folklore: Tales from the Emerald Isle by Eibhlin O’Connell
- Irish Ghosts and Hauntings by Linda Kane
- The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
- Songs:
- “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush (“Heathcliff, it’s me, Cathy”)
- “Banshee” by Santigold
- Movies:
- The Banshee Chapter (2013)
- Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)
🔍 Quizzes
### Which of these means "to scream shrilly"?
- [x] Wail like a banshee
- [ ] Hum like a monk
- [ ] Growl like a bear
- [ ] Chime like a bell
> **Explanation:** "Wail like a banshee" accurately describes a shrill scream, drawing from Irish folklore. The others don't quite have the same ear-piercing quality.
### True or False: The word "banshee" originated from Gaelic.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! The word "banshee" comes from the Gaelic term **bean sidhe**, meaning "woman of the fairy mound."
### Which idiom refers to making a loud, high-pitched noise?
- [x] Shatter glass with her voice
- [ ] Whisper sweet nothings
- [ ] Hum like a bee
- [ ] Speak softly and carry a big stick
> **Explanation:** "Shatter glass with her voice" refers to a high-pitched noise, often likened to an extremely loud scream. The others imply quieter forms of sound.
### What does the term "screech" mean?
- [x] A harsh, high-pitched sound
- [ ] A soothing melody
- [ ] A calm conversation
- [ ] A whispered lullaby
> **Explanation:** "Screech" means a harsh, high-pitched sound, often unpleasant to the ears.
### In folklore, what does a banshee's wail signify?
- [ ] The arrival of a Leprechaun
- [x] The impending death of a family member
- [ ] A wedding celebration
- [ ] The beginning of spring
> **Explanation:** In Irish folklore, a banshee's wail is often a sign that a family member will soon die.
Published by: Phantasmic Press
Author: A. E. Loreweaver
Date: October 10, 2023
Remember, language is a living tapestry woven from the threads of history, culture, and imagination. Keep listening, and you might hear the banshee’s wail in the most unexpected places. 🍀📚✨
