Bewail: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ˜ข
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bewail

 

[ bษชหˆweษชl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

expressing sorrow or grief

to express deep sorrow or grief over something

Synonyms

grieve, lament, mourn.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bewail

Suitable for very emotional situations where someone expresses their sorrow with loud cries or complaints. Often used in literary contexts.

  • She bewailed the loss of her beloved pet.
  • They bewailed the destruction caused by the storm.
lament

Used to express deep regret or sorrow, and can be used in both personal and public contexts. It often suggests a more solemn and reflective tone.

  • The poem laments the passing of an era.
  • She lamented the missed opportunities in her life.
mourn

Commonly used when speaking about the formal expression of grief, especially after someone's death. It is often seen in both personal and public settings.

  • They mourned the loss of their grandfather.
  • The community gathered to mourn the fallen hero.
grieve

Appropriate when referring to the deep sorrow felt, typically over a death or serious loss. Can be used in both personal and formal contexts.

  • He grieves for his late wife every day.
  • It is natural to grieve after losing a loved one.

Examples of usage

  • He bewailed the death of his beloved pet cat.
  • She bewailed the loss of her job.
Context #2 | Verb

complaining about something

to complain about something loudly and bitterly

Synonyms

bemoan, complain, grumble.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bewail

This word is often used in more formal or literary settings to express deep sorrow or regret over something.

  • She couldn't help but bewail the loss of her childhood home.
  • The poet bewailed the tragedy of war in his latest work.
complain

A common, everyday word used to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.

  • He complained about the noisy neighbors.
  • She frequently complains about the long hours at work.
bemoan

This is used when expressing discontent or sorrow, often in a somewhat rhetorical or exaggerated way.

  • He constantly bemoaned the fact that he didn't get the promotion.
  • Residents bemoaned the lack of infrastructure in their neighborhood.
grumble

Typically used informally to describe someone expressing a low-level, ongoing dissatisfaction, often in a quiet or muttering way.

  • He grumbled under his breath about the price of coffee.
  • The employees grumbled about the new dress code policy.

Examples of usage

  • She bewailed the state of the economy.
  • He bewailed the injustice of the decision.

Translations

Translations of the word "bewail" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น lamentar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคถเฅ‹เค• เค•เคฐเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช beklagen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ meratapi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพะฟะปะฐะบัƒะฒะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ opล‚akiwaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ˜†ใ (ใชใ’ใ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dรฉplorer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ lamentar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท aฤŸlamak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์Šฌํผํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠู†ุฏุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bฤ›dovat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ lamentovaลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ“€ๆ‚ผ (ฤidร o)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ลพalovati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ harma

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะพา›ั‚ะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒšแƒแƒ•แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ aฤŸlamaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ lamentar

Etymology

The word 'bewail' dates back to Middle English, derived from the Old English word 'bewวฃlan', meaning 'to lament'. The prefix 'be-' intensifies the meaning of 'wail', which itself means 'to express sorrow audibly'. Over time, 'bewail' has retained its essence of expressing deep sorrow or grief, as well as complaining loudly about something.

See also: wail, wailing.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,367, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.