mourn

Everyday

1. To mourn is to feel and show deep sadness because someone has died. tree →
2. To mourn something is to feel sad that it is gone or lost: «We mourned the end of the holidays». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life families mourn when someone dies; there is a funeral and sometimes people wear black. In religious education, different faiths have customs for mourning, like Jewish sitting shiva. In stories a character mourns a lost friend. Phrases: «mourn the death of», «mourn for», «in mourning», «a period of mourning».

Examples

• We all mourned when Grandpa died. tree →
• The whole country mourned the queen. tree →
• The family wore black to show they were in mourning. tree →
• The girl mourned for her lost cat. tree →
• Jesus said, «Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted». tree →
• Jewish families mourn together for seven days, called shiva. tree →
• It is natural to cry when you mourn. tree →

Note

Regular verb, past «mourned». Noun: mourning, mourner. Homophone: «morning» sounds very similar but «mourning» (sadness) has a «u». Mourning has no time limit; people grieve in different ways.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Jewish law has set rules of mourning. People tear their clothes, as Jacob did, and the practice continues with the seven-day period called shiva. In the primary lessons: In everyday life families mourn when someone dies; there is a funeral and sometimes people wear black. In religious education, different faiths have customs for mourning, like Jewish sitting shiva. In stories a character mourns a lost friend. Phrases: «mourn the death of», «mourn for», «in mourning», «a period of mourning».

Examples

• And Moses told these words unto all the children of Israel; and the people mourned greatly. (Torah NUM.14.39, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. (Torah GEN.37.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man did put on him his ornaments. (Torah EXO.33.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And David mourned for his son every day. (Prophets 2SA.13.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. (Writings 2CH.35.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him. (Writings 1CH.7.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb, past «mourned». Noun: mourning, mourner. Homophone: «morning» sounds very similar but «mourning» (sadness) has a «u». Mourning has no time limit; people grieve in different ways.