bewail

[ bih-weyl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to express deep sorrow for; lament:

   a little child bewailing the loss of her dog.

   Synonyms: mourn, bemoan

verb (used without object)

1. to express grief.

bewail

/ bɪˈweɪl /

verb

1. to express great sorrow over (a person or thing); lament

Derived Forms

• beˈwailer, noun
• beˈwailing, nounadjective
• beˈwailingly, adverb
• beˈwailed, adjective

Other Words From

• be·wailing·ly adverb
• be·wailment noun
• unbe·wailed adjective
• unbe·wailing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bewail¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; be-, wail

Example Sentences

I recount this not to bewail my fate, or to dwell in the past.

From The Daily Beast

To bewail the loss of a person we love is a happiness compared with the necessity of living with one we hate.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you remember how those poor girls used to bewail the restrictions to their reading?

From Project Gutenberg

It is better to drop a tear over the inconsistency of human nature, and to bewail those infirmities which cannot be justified.

From Project Gutenberg

Three days afterwards he sailed from the port of the Holy Cross, leaving crowds of the natives to bewail the loss of their chiefs.

From Project Gutenberg

And now that God has granted my prayer, I bewail His way of doing it.

From Project Gutenberg