Definition

Shedding tears quietly and steadily, often expressing sadness, grief, or deep emotion; gentler and more controlled than sobbing.

Example Usage

She sat by the window, weeping softly as she watched the rain.

Origin

From Old English 'wepan,' cognate with German 'weinen,' part of ancient Germanic language roots.

Fun Fact

Emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones like cortisol compared to reflex tears, which is why crying can feel cathartic.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)