/ ləˈment; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( formal ) to feel or express great sadness or disappointment about sb/sth
SYN bemoan , bewail :
[ vn ]
In the poem he laments the destruction of the countryside.
[also v that , v speech ]
■ noun
( formal ) a song, poem or other expression of great sadness for sb who has died or for sth that has ended
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a verb): from French lamenter or Latin lamentari , from lamenta (plural) weeping, wailing.