lamentations

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Loud, repeated expressions of deep sadness or grief.

   Grammar: Used as a plural noun; the singular 'lamentation' means one cry of grief.

   Patterns

   • lamentations of something
   • lamentations over something
   • loud lamentations

   The whole village could hear the lamentations of the women at the funeral.

   Her lamentations over the lost harvest went on for weeks.

2. 2proper nounproperreligion

   A book of the Bible made up of five sorrowful poems about the destruction of Jerusalem.

   Grammar: Takes a capital letter and no article: 'the book of Lamentations' or simply 'Lamentations'.

   Patterns

   • the book of Lamentations
   • in Lamentations

   The reading for today comes from Lamentations.

   He wrote a sermon on the third chapter of Lamentations.

Word forms

Common combinations

loud lamentations

Loud lamentations rose from the crowd when the news was announced.

lamentations of grief

The poem is full of the lamentations of grief.

hear someone's lamentations

We could hear his lamentations through the thin walls.

a chorus of lamentations

A chorus of lamentations greeted the decision to close the factory.

Synonyms and how they differ

wails

Wails are high, piercing cries, while lamentations can also be spoken or written expressions of sorrow.

moans

Moans are quieter and often suggest pain, whereas lamentations are louder and more formal in tone.

keening

Keening is a specific wailing for the dead, especially in Irish tradition; lamentations is a more general word.

Opposites

Word family

lament verb

to express deep sadness about something

lamentation noun

one cry or expression of grief

lamentable adjective

very bad or regrettable

Commonly confused: lamentations or laments?

Practice

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