What is the origin of phrase cry

The origin of the word "cry" is fascinating and goes back a long way! It's actually a very old word with roots in the Proto-Indo-European language, which is the ancestor of many languages, including English.

Here's a breakdown of its lineage:

* Proto-Indo-European: The root word was likely *gʷre-*, meaning "to call out, shout, or make a noise". This is where the "cry" in "cry out" originated.

* Proto-Germanic: This root evolved into *grōtan*, which means "to weep, to cry".

* Old English: The word "crian" emerged, which meant "to weep, to cry".

* Middle English: The spelling changed to "crien", and the word became "cry".

So, the word "cry" has been around for a long time, and its meaning has evolved over centuries. While the word itself is ancient, the different ways we use "cry" in modern English reflect the wide range of human emotions.