English Explanatory Dictionary

lament

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An expression of grief, suffering, sadness or regret.
  2. A song expressing grief.
verb
  1. To express grief; to weep or wail; to mourn.
  2. To express great sorrow or regret over; to bewail.

Pronunciation

/ləˈmɛnt/ en-au-lament.ogg en-us-lament.ogg

Word forms

lament laments lamenting lamented

Etymology

A back-formation from lamentation or else from Middle French lamenter and its etymon Latin lāmentor (“to wail, weep”), from lāmentum (“wailing, moaning, weeping”); with formative -mentum, from the root *la-, probably ultimately imitative. Also see latrare.

Synonyms

afterthink becry begrieve bemoan bemourn bewail beweep condole deplore elegize grieve grieven keen lament mean mourn pine repent sigh sorrow wail wayment aggrieve besorrow darken engrieve erme gloom bleed moan remorse regret rue yearn beef bellyache bitch bleat whimper carp chunter complain crab croak dump on frine girn give out grumble grotch grouse grouch grump gruntle gripe harp inveigh kvetch latrate make a stink

Antonyms

cheer up gladden

Related words

lamentability lamentable lamentation Lamentations lamenting be sad sad sadden

Derived words

lamentacious lamentful lamentless
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