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# bemoan

verb (bemoans, bemoaned, bemoaning); formal or old use

«bemoan» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To bemoan something is to complain sadly about it, or to cry and grieve over it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bemoan/#m1)

### In the lessons

in stories, sad characters cry and wail over their bad luck or their loss; a grander word than «moan»

### Examples

- The birds of the air came and bemoaned Snow-White. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bemoan/#x1)
- The poor woman bemoaned her lost home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bemoan/#x2)
- They sat and bemoaned their fate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bemoan/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

To bemoan the dead is to mourn them aloud, as was the custom in ancient Israel.

**Interpretation.** Jeremiah says not to mourn the dead king but the one taken into exile, since exile was seen as the greater loss.

### Examples

- These two things are befallen thee; who shall bemoan thee? desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword; how shall I comfort thee? (Prophets ISA.51.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bemoan/#x1)
- Bemoan him, all ye that are round about him, and all ye that know his name; say: 'How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod!' (Prophets JER.48.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bemoan/#x2)
- Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him; but weep sore for him that goeth away, for he shall return no more, nor see his native country. (Prophets JER.22.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bemoan/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bemoan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bemoan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bemoan» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bemoan.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «bemoan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bemoan/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bemoan» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bemoan.html) on Mova free.