lament
UK: ləˈment | US: ləˈment
v. to express grief, sorrow, or regret
n. a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
n. a song, poem, or other composition expressing lamentation
The word "lament" traces back to the Latin lamentum, meaning "a wailing or moaning." The root la- is linked to the act of crying out, while -ment is a suffix forming nouns denoting actions or results. Over time, the term evolved in Old French as lamenter (to mourn) before entering Middle English with its current spelling and meaning. The word retains its core association with vocalized grief, whether spoken, sung, or written.
She began to lament the loss of her childhood home.
The poem is a lament for soldiers who died in war.
He lamented his decision to leave the job too soon.
Traditional laments were sung at the funeral.
The novel’s tone shifts from joy to lament as the story unfolds.