lament
lament
Pronunciation
Here's the IPA phonetic spelling for "lament" broken down by syllable sounds:
lam (first syllable)
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral consonant (similar to the "l" sound in "lip")
/a/ - low central unrounded vowel (like the "a" in "father")
/m/ - bilabial nasal consonant (like the "m" sound in "man")
ent (second syllable)
/ɛ/ - mid central unrounded vowel (like the "e" in "bet")
/n/ - alveolar nasal consonant (like the "n" sound in "pin")
/t/ - alveolar plosive consonant (like the "t" sound in "top")
Complete IPA: /ˈlamɛnt/
Word Form Variations
The word "lament" has a few variations depending on its part of speech:
Noun:
Singular: lament
Plural: laments (simply adds an "s")
Verb:
Present tense (singular and plural): laments (identical to the singular noun form)
Past tense (singular and plural): lamented (adds "-ed")
Present participle: lamenting (adds "-ing")
Past participle: lamented (same as past tense)
There are no other derivations (like adjective forms) for "lament" itself. However, some related words might be considered variations depending on context:
Lamentation: This noun form emphasises the act of lamenting or a prolonged expression of grief.
Lamentable: This adjective describes something that is worthy of lament, meaning sad, unfortunate, or regrettable.
Lamentably: This adverb describes the manner of lamenting or something done in a regrettable way.
These related words wouldn't be considered direct conjugations of "lament" but could be seen as variations depending on how you use them in a sentence.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: An outward expression of grief, sorrow, or regret. (Sounds of sadness, crying, or a mournful speech)
Synonyms: Wailing, mourning, dirge, elegy, complaint
Antonyms: Celebration, jubilation, joy, delight
Verb:
Definition:
To express deep sorrow or regret, often vocally or demonstratively. (To cry, weep, or mourn loudly)
To feel or express sorrow or regret for something. (To be sad or sorry about something that happened)
Synonyms: Mourn, grieve, bewail, bemoan, deplore
Antonyms: Celebrate, rejoice, relish, savour, approve
Note: "Lament" doesn't have an adjective or adverb form directly, but here are related words that can function similarly:
Adjective (related): Lamentable (meaning worthy of lament, unfortunate, regrettable)
Synonyms: Sad, sorrowful, tragic, pitiful, woeful
Antonyms: Fortunate, happy, delightful, pleasing
Adverb (related): Lamentably (meaning in a way that expresses lament, unfortunately, regrettably)
Synonyms: Sadly, sorrowfully, regrettably, unfortunately, woefully
Antonyms: Fortunately, happily, delightfully, pleasingly
Examples of Use
Literature:
"He let out a loud lament, his voice echoing through the empty halls." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings) - This example showcases lament as a noun, describing an outward expression of grief.
Newspapers:
"The city lamented the loss of its beloved firefighter who died heroically saving a family from a burning building." (The New York Times) - Here, lament functions as a verb (past tense) describing the collective sorrow of the community.
Online Publications:
"Fans lamented the cancellation of their favourite show, taking to social media to express their disappointment." (Buzzfeed) - This example uses lament as a verb (present tense), showing a public expression of regret.
Entertainment Mediums:
In a war film, a soldier might lament the loss of his comrades in a battle scene. (Saving Private Ryan) - This visual example portrays lament as a noun, the outward expression of grief.
A song titled "Lament for the Lost" could be a musical expression of sorrow and regret. - Here, the title "Lament" directly references the act of lamenting.
Public Discourse:
"Environmental activists lamented the government's inaction on climate change." (Public protest speech) - This spoken example uses lament as a verb (past tense) to describe the expression of deep concern.
"Some people lament the decline of traditional values in society." (Casual conversation) - This everyday use shows lament as a verb (present tense) expressing a feeling of regret about a perceived change.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Lament
While there aren't a ton of quotes that directly use the word "lament," here are ten famous quotes that capture the essence of lamenting, expressing grief, regret, or sorrow:
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." (Socrates) - This quote implies a lament for the limitations of human knowledge.
"It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." (Alfred Tennyson) - This bittersweet quote acknowledges the pain of loss but also cherishes the experience.
"Tears are the language of the heart. They speak what the tongue cannot express." (Voltaire) - This quote describes a form of lament, the expression of deep emotion through tears.
"Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper." (Voltaire) - This proverb suggests the potential disappointment (lament) that can come from holding onto hope for something uncertain.
"Let not a libation of tears be the only offering at the shrine of Jesus; let us also rejoice with joy unspeakable." (Charles Spurgeon) - This quote highlights the importance of both lamenting and celebrating in life's journey.
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Nelson Mandela) - This quote acknowledges the experience of setbacks (which can lead to lament) but emphasises resilience.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates) - This quote suggests a potential lament for a life lived without reflection or facing difficult truths.
"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) - This quote implies the potential lament of missed opportunities or choices not made.
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on others." (Jackie Robinson) - This quote suggests a potential lament for a life lived with little positive influence.
"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) - Similar to quote #9, this suggests a potential lament for a life that hasn't made a meaningful contribution.
Etymology
The word "lament" is like a distant echo of cries of sadness. Here's the story:
Way back in ancient times, people probably used sounds to express their feelings. Maybe a loud "la la la" meant sadness or pain.
Over time, those sounds evolved into a Latin word "lamentum," which meant wailing, moaning, or weeping. It was like the actual sound of lamenting!
Fast forward a bit, and French borrowed this word, turning it into "lamenter" which meant to moan or bewail.
Finally, in the 1500s, English took the French word and turned it into "lament," which we use today to describe expressing grief, sorrow, or regret. So, whenever you say "lament," you're kind of echoing those ancient cries of sadness!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Lament
Here are some phrases and idioms that use the word "lament":
Lament one's losses: This expresses sadness over what you've lost, like a loved one, a job, or an opportunity.
Lament the decline of something: This refers to expressing regret over something that's disappearing or getting worse, like traditional values or the environment.
A/The lament for something: This can be a formal expression of grief, like a poem or song written about a loss.
Without a lament: This means accepting something bad that's happened without complaining or dwelling on it.
To waste one's breath lamenting: This suggests that complaining about a situation won't change it and is a waste of time.
Here are some idioms that don't directly use "lament" but capture the same feeling:
Cry over spilled milk: This means regretting something that can't be changed.
Water under the bridge: This refers to something that's happened in the past and can't be undone, so there's no point in dwelling on it.
Cross that bridge when you come to it: This means dealing with a problem when it actually arises, not worrying about it beforehand.
Posts Related to Lament
Source Information
Definition of lament from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
