Definition

1. Noun:

   • A passionate expression of grief or sorrow: A "lament" is a formal or literary expression of deep sadness, often for someone who has died.
   • A song, poem, or piece of music expressing grief: It can refer to a specific artistic composition that mourns a loss or tragedy.

2. Verb:

   • To express grief, sorrow, or regret: To mourn aloud; to feel or express deep sorrow.
   • To regret strongly; to deplore: To express disappointment or strong disapproval about something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The poet wrote a beautiful lament for his late wife.
  • The sound of their laments filled the funeral hall.

• Verb:

  • The entire nation lamented the passing of the beloved leader.
  • She lamented the decline of traditional craftsmanship.

Advanced Usage

• "to lament over": to express sorrow about something.
  • He spent hours lamenting over his lost opportunities.
• "a lament for": a lament that is dedicated to or about a specific person or thing.
  • The song is a lament for a lost homeland.

Variants and Related Words

• Lamentation (n): The act of lamenting; a passionate expression of grief.
  • The lamentation of the mourners was heart-wrenching.
• Lamentable (adj): Deserving criticism or regret; deplorable.
  • The lack of funding for the arts is lamentable.
• Lamenter (n): One who laments.

Synonyms

• Noun: Dirge, elegy, requiem, plaint, wail.
• Verb: Mourn, grieve, bewail, bemoan, deplore, rue.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Lament" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The verb is typically used directly or with the preposition "over.")

Related Idioms

• "a lament of...": This is not a fixed idiom, but a common collocation to introduce the subject of the sorrow.
  • His speech was a lament of the injustices he had witnessed.

Noun

1. a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
2. a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
3. a cry of sorrow and grief
   • their pitiful laments could be heard throughout the ward

Verb

1. regret strongly
   • I deplore this hostile action
   • we lamented the loss of benefits
2. express grief verbally
   • we lamented the death of the child