lament
- 01 C1 Advanced
v.to say or show that you are very sad or disappointed about a situation.
v.to express deep regret, grief, or disappointment regarding a specific circumstance or loss. Often used transitively with a direct object.
Simple“Many citizens lament the closing of the historic library in the city centre.”
In context“Environmentalists lament the disappearance of these wetlands, which once served as a vital sanctuary for migratory birds.”
UsageCommonly takes a direct object, though it can be used intransitively to describe the act of mourning in general.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a song, poem, or speech that expresses deep sadness, especially for someone who has died.
n.a formal expression of sorrow or mourning, often taking the form of a literary work, musical composition, or dirge.
Simple“The poet wrote a moving lament for his friend who passed away.”
In context“The cellist performed a haunting lament that echoed through the cathedral, capturing the somber mood of the memorial service.”
Antonymspaeancelebration
“The lead single is a gorgeous, violin-led lament.”
“There are thousands of videos like this one on social media, lamenting the "luteal uglies" - the changes in appearance and mood that women say appear during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.”
A back-formation from lamentation or else from Middle French lamenter and its etymon Latin lāmentor (“I wail, weep”), from lāmentum (“wailing, moaning, weeping”); with formative -mentum, from the root *la-, probably ultimately imitative. Also see latrare.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.