Word of the Day: Lament

la-ment / ləˈment

 

verb

 

1. to express sorrow or regret, usually demonstratively; to mourn

You can choose to accept the darkness and lament it, or you can choose to expand the light until the darkness no longer dominates.

Deepak Chopra, 1946-

 

2. to regret strongly

We are more prone to murmur at the punishment of our faults than to lament them.

Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington, 1789-1849

 

noun

 

1. a crying out in grief

My lament will terrify even the stars.

Jessica Stern, 1958-

 

2. a dirge or elegy

Directed by the will of the master, the trombones can chant like a choir of priests, threaten, utter gloomy sighs, a mournful lament, or a bright hymn of glory […]

Hector Berlioz, 1803-1869

 

3. a complaint

To object that the facts about human nature set limits on our ability to change the world and ourselves makes as much sense as the lament that our lack of wings sets limits on our ability to ‘fly’ as far as eagles under our own power.

Noam Chomsky, 1928-