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Cawed: meaning, definitions and examples

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cawed

 

[ kɔːd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

sound made

Cawed is the past tense of the verb 'caw', which refers to the harsh cry of a crow or similar bird. It is typically used to describe the noise made when these birds communicate or alert others to danger.

Synonyms

croaked, screamed, squawked.

Examples of usage

  • The crow cawed loudly at dawn.
  • As they approached the graveyard, a couple of ravens cawed overhead.
  • She heard a distant cawing as she walked through the park.
  • The sudden cawing of the crows startled the hikers.

Etymology

The word 'caw' originates from the Middle English 'cawen', which comes from the early 14th century. Its roots can be traced back to the Old French 'cawer', which means to croak. This term has also been influenced by the similar sounds made by other birds, and it has maintained its association with the harsh vocalizations of crows and similar species. The term is onomatopoeic, meaning it imitates the sound associated with the act of cawing. The evolution of 'cawed' reflects the linguistic tendencies of English to adapt and incorporate sounds from the natural world into language, illustrating a deep connection between human expression and animal communication.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,324, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.