bə̇, bē+ transitive verb
Etymology: alteration (influenced by moan ) of Middle English bemenen, from Old English bemænan, from be- + mænan to moan — more at moan
1.
a. : to express grief over : lament
she bemoaned her brother's death
b. archaic : to subject (oneself) to lamentations
people grieve and bemoan themselves, but it is not half so bad with them as they say — R.W.Emerson
2. obsolete : to express pity or sorrow for
they bemoaned him and comforted him over all the evil … brought upon him — Job 42:11 (Authorized Version)
3. : to look upon with regret, displeasure, or disapproval
the governmental control which industrialists bemoan so consistently — Douglas McGregor
Synonyms: see deplore