lament

Everyday

1. To lament is to show or say strongly that you are very sad or sorry about something, often someone's death. tree →
2. A lament is a sad song, poem or piece of music about loss or death. tree →
3. To lament something is to complain or regret that it happened or is missing. tree →

In the lessons

In RE and the Bible, the Book of Lamentations and David's lament for Saul show grief; in literature and music, a lament (like bagpipe laments) expresses sorrow. In formal writing, people lament changes («many lament the loss of the village shop»). Phrases: «lament the loss of», «the late lamented» (who has died, or is gone), «a lament for».

Examples

• The villagers lamented the death of their kind old doctor. tree →
• A piper played a lament at the funeral. tree →
• David sang a lament for his friend Jonathan. tree →
• Grandad laments that children don't play outside anymore. tree →
• The poem is a lament for the lost forests. tree →
• Many readers lamented the end of the series. tree →
• All night Charming sighed and lamented. tree →

Note

Stress on the second syllable: la-MENT. Noun «lamentation», adjective «lamentable» (very bad, regrettable — formal). Regular verb: lamented. A lament is not a complaint about something small; it is deep sorrow or strong regret.

In Jewish tradition

To lament is to mourn aloud, often in poems or songs of grief for the dead or for a ruined city.

Interpretation. David's lament for Saul and Jonathan is a famous example. Tradition values mourning for the dead and for the fall of Jerusalem.

Examples

• And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, (Prophets 2SA.1.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. (Prophets JOL.1.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the king lamented for Abner, and said: Should Abner die as a churl dieth? (Prophets 2SA.3.33, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Stress on the second syllable: la-MENT. Noun «lamentation», adjective «lamentable» (very bad, regrettable — formal). Regular verb: lamented. A lament is not a complaint about something small; it is deep sorrow or strong regret.