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Webster 1913 Edition

Whine

Whine

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Whined
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Whining
.]
[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.
wihōn
,
hweijōn
; perhaps of imitative origin. Cf.
Whinny
,
Verb.
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.
“Whining plovers.”
Spenser.
The hounds were . . . staying their coming, but with a
whining
accent, craving liberty.
Sir P. Sidney.
Dost thou come here to
whine
?
Shakespeare

Whine

,
Verb.
T.
To utter or express plaintively, or in a mean, unmanly way;
as, to
whine
out an excuse
.

Whine

,
Noun.
A plaintive tone; the nasal, childish tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint.

Webster 1828 Edition

Whine

WHINE

,
Verb.
T.
[L.] TO express murmurs by a plaintive cry; to moan with a puerile noise; to murmur meanly.
They came--with a whining accent craving liberty.
Then, if we whine, look pale--

WHINE

,
Noun.
A plaintive tone; the nasal puerile tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint.

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