Bewailment

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of openly expressing grief and sorrow in reaction to significant loss or hardship denotes a feeling of profound sadness and lamentation
2. The expression of sorrow and regret that occurs when confronting significant misfortunes involves deep mourning and a loud declaration of grief during difficult times
3. The act of showing strong sorrow or lamentation for a loss or misfortune

Etymology: "Bewailment" is a plain formation: the verb "bewail" with the suffix "-ment" attached. "Bewail" itself is built from the prefix "be-", which intensifies or thoroughly applies an action, and "wail," a word of imitative origin for a loud cry of sorrow. So the word is essentially "a thorough wailing," the act of crying out in mourning. The suffix "-ment" comes via French from Latin "-mentum," and it turns a verb into a noun naming the action or its result. Many English nouns follow this pattern, such as "judgment" or "requirement," so "bewailment" fits a long-established model rather than a rare one.

Synonyms: lamentation, grief

Antonyms: joy, celebration