bewail
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bewail
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at be-, wail
Explanation
The verb bewail means to lament or express great sorrow. When your big brother or sister starts kindergarten, you may bewail the fact that they can't play with you all day anymore but you'll be excited when you get to go to school also! The verb bewail is from the Old Norse word væla, meaning to lament. The prefix be- is added when you want to make something stronger or more intense. So bewail means to greatly lament and when compared to bemoan, a word with similar meaning, bewailing would be louder and more intense. You can bewail the death of a friend, but if you bewail a minor irritation like a broken nail, people will accuse you of being overly dramatic.
Vocabulary lists containing bewail
Beowulf
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 19–24
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bewail me as one who has died in the Lord.
From Pretty Michal by Jókai, Mór
Bewail me not; I am still so blest— In my heart lieth heaven's own rest.
From Strife and Peace by Howitt, Mary (Mary Botham)
Bewail her bitter fruit—but praised be The rights that triumph over thee and me!
From Polyeucte by Constable, Thomas
And ye whose minds distress can move, Bewail a Sparrow's fate; The Sparrow, favourite of my fair, Fond object of her tend'rest care, Her loss indeed how great.
From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 404, December 12, 1829 by Various
Bewail my chance: the sad book is returned, This day denial hath my sport adjourned.
From The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 3 (of 3) by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
