US /ˈkɹaɪɚ/ UK /ˈkraɪə/
noun Freq #38655

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    historical: an official who publicly announced news, proclamations, or court proceedings

    The town crier rang a bell before reading the mayor's proclamation.

  2. 2
    noun

    a street seller who calls out to advertise goods

    A fruit crier shouted the day's prices across the crowded market.

  3. 3
    noun

    a person who cries or weeps

    He was never much of a crier, even during sad films.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · historical: an official who... heraldannouncerproclaimer
2 noun · a street seller who calls... hawkerstreet vendor
3 noun · a person who cries or weeps weeper
Word family
Forms criers
Related forms crytown criercrie

Etymology

From Middle English crier or criour, through Old French crieor, from crier, 'to cry out or proclaim.' It is now also understood transparently as cry + the agent suffix -er.

Topics

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