Definition

1. Noun:

   • The passionate and demonstrative activity of expressing grief: The outward actions, rituals, or behaviors that show sorrow, such as crying, wearing black, or holding ceremonies.
   • State of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one: The feeling or condition of deep sadness, especially due to a loss.

2. Adjective:

   • Sorrowful through loss or deprivation: Describing someone who is filled with grief.
   • Bereft of hope: Describing a state of deep sadness where hope feels lost.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The family entered a period of deep mourning after the funeral.
  • Public mourning was observed with flags at half-mast.

• Adjective:

  • She wore a dark, mourning dress to the service.
  • His mourning expression revealed the depth of his loss.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in mourning": To be in a formal or recognized period of grief, often involving specific customs like wearing dark clothing.

  • The entire nation was in mourning for its former leader.

• "To go into mourning": To begin such a formal period of grief.

  • The court went into mourning for thirty days.

Variants and Related Words

• Mourn (verb): To feel or express sorrow or grief.

  • She continues to mourn her husband.

• Mourner (noun): A person who attends a funeral or is grieving.

  • The mourners gathered at the graveside.

• Mournful (adjective): Expressing or causing sadness; sorrowful.

  • A mournful melody played.

Synonyms

• Grief: Intense sorrow, especially caused by someone's death.
• Lamentation: The passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
• Bereavement: The state of being deprived of a loved one through death.

Related Phrases

• Mourning band: A black band worn on the arm or hat as a sign of mourning.

  • The police officers wore mourning bands on their badges.

• Mourning period: A designated time for grieving.

  • The official mourning period lasted one week.

Idioms

• "Widow's mourning": Refers to the traditional, often lengthy, period of mourning observed by a widow.

  • In the Victorian era, a widow's mourning could last for years.

• "To be in deep mourning": To be profoundly affected by grief.

  • Since the accident, he has been in deep mourning and rarely leaves the house.

Adjective

1. sorrowful through loss or deprivation
   • bereft of hope

Noun

1. the passionate and demonstrative activity of expressing grief
2. state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one