Bewail: meaning, definitions and examples

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bewail

 

[ bɪˈweɪl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

expressing sorrow or grief

to express deep sorrow or grief over something

Synonyms

grieve, lament, mourn

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

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:

🇵🇹 lamentar

🇮🇳 शोक करना

🇩🇪 beklagen

🇮🇩 meratapi

🇺🇦 оплакувати

🇵🇱 opłakiwać

🇯🇵 嘆く (なげく)

🇫🇷 déplorer

🇪🇸 lamentar

🇹🇷 ağlamak

🇰🇷 슬퍼하다

🇸🇦 يندب

🇨🇿 bědovat

🇸🇰 lamentovať

🇨🇳 哀悼 (āidào)

🇸🇮 žalovati

🇮🇸 harma

🇰🇿 жоқтау

🇬🇪 გლოვა

🇦🇿 ağlamaq

🇲🇽 lamentar

Etymology

The word 'bewail' dates back to Middle English, derived from the Old English word 'bewǣlan', 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.