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

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

A Catholic cardinal in Ireland in 1931 used his Lenten pulpit to bewail “the great and common source of evil — parking of motor cars close to dance halls in badly lighted village streets or on dark country roads.”

From Los Angeles Times

A Catholic cardinal in Ireland in 1931 used his Lenten pulpit to bewail “the great and common source of evil — parking of motor cars close to dance halls in badly lighted village streets or on dark country roads.”

From Los Angeles Times

What profit to bewail that which has always been and cannot change?

From Literature

Trump’s yearslong bewail of Philadelphia reached its aria in the presidential debate on the evening of Sept. 29.

From New York Times

Either way, expect Trump to bewail that which he never would have done — put a woman on his ticket.

From Washington Post