Lament
/ləˈmɛnt/
nounverbB2
Definition
Lament means to feel or express strong sadness, usually because of something bad that happened or someone lost. As a noun, a lament is a sad song, poem, or speech about pain or loss. As a verb, it means to show or say this sadness.
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See It in Action
As a verb: To express sadness or regret about something
- •She lamented the loss of her childhood home.
- •People lament the passing of old traditions.
- •He lamented not having spent more time with his family.
As a noun: A song, poem, or expression of sorrow or grief
- •The poet wrote a lament for the fallen soldiers.
- •The lament echoed through the village after the storm.
- •Her voice was full of lament as she sang the old folk song.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'lament' like 'cry' or 'sad' (A1 words), but it is more about expressing sadness with words or art, not just tears
- ✓Picture someone sitting quietly by a grave, softly speaking or singing about their loss
- ✓It's the feeling when you remember something sad and want to share your pain or sorrow
- ✓Sounds like 'la-MENT' → imagine someone saying 'I MENT (meant) to be happy, but now I am sad,' showing regret or sadness
- ✓Think of old songs or poems that tell stories of lost love or hard times, like a sad story told with music
- ✓NOT like 'complain' (which often means to say you don’t like something in a small or annoying way), lament is deep sadness or mourning
- ✓NOT like 'cry' (which is just tears), lament includes words, music, or other ways to show sadness
- ✓As a noun, lament is a special kind of sad song or speech, not just any sad talk
Try Other Words
- •Mourn: to feel or show sadness for someone who has died (Use when sadness is about death)
- •Grieve: to feel deep sadness, especially after loss (Use for strong, personal sadness)
- •Complain: to say you are unhappy about something (Use when expressing dissatisfaction, not deep sadness)
- •Bewail: to express great sorrow or disappointment (Use in formal or poetic contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: no clear prefix or suffix; root word from Latin 'lamentum'
- •Etymology: From Latin 'lamentari' meaning to wail or mourn aloud
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to mean expressing sorrow, often in poetry or speech
- •Modern usage: Used both as a verb (to express sadness) and noun (a sad song or speech), often in formal or literary contexts
Reflect & Connect
•How do people in your culture show lament when they feel deep sadness or loss?
•Can lament be helpful to people, or does it sometimes make them feel worse? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.She lamented the ___ of her best friend, feeling deep sorrow every day.
2.The old man’s lament was heard ___ the quiet village after the war.
3.Unlike a simple complaint, a lament shows ___ sadness and pain.
4.People often lament ___ changes in their lives that they cannot control.
5.The poet’s lament was written to ___ the memory of lost heroes.
6.When someone laments, they usually use ___ or words, not just tears.
7.You might hear a lament sung at a funeral to ___ the person who died.