mourning

Everyday

1. Great sadness shown after someone dies. tree →
2. The time when people show sadness after a death, often with special customs or black clothes: a period of mourning. tree →
3. (verb form) -ing form of «mourn»: they are mourning their grandad. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and news «in mourning» tells the reader that a family or country is grieving. Some cultures wear black or white clothes for mourning. In everyday kindness, people send cards to those who are mourning. Phrases: in mourning, a day of mourning, wear mourning.

Examples

• The whole town was in mourning after the accident. tree →
• They wore black as a sign of mourning. tree →
• The country held a day of mourning. tree →
• She is still mourning her old cat. tree →
• The flags flew at half-mast for mourning. tree →
• It is natural to feel sad when you are mourning someone. tree →
• We were quiet out of respect for the mourning family. tree →
• There was great mourning throughout the land. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Homophone trap: «mourning» (sadness after death) sounds the same as «morning» (early part of the day) in most accents. Verb: mourn, mourned. A person who mourns is a «mourner».

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The Torah tells of seven days of mourning for Jacob and thirty days for Moses. These are the root of the customs of shiva, seven days, and shloshim, thirty days. In the primary lessons: In stories and news «in mourning» tells the reader that a family or country is grieving. Some cultures wear black or white clothes for mourning. In everyday kindness, people send cards to those who are mourning. Phrases: in mourning, a day of mourning, wear mourning.

Examples

• And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.' (Torah GEN.27.41, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended. (Torah DEU.34.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they wailed with a very great and sore wailing; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. (Torah GEN.50.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why go I mourning under the oppression of the enemy?' (Writings PSA.42.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why go I mourning under the oppression of the enemy? (Writings PSA.43.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• In those days I Daniel was mourning three whole weeks. (Writings DAN.10.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Homophone trap: «mourning» (sadness after death) sounds the same as «morning» (early part of the day) in most accents. Verb: mourn, mourned. A person who mourns is a «mourner».