verb
bemoan
Bemoan (verb) means to express sadness or complaint about something.
verb
1
To express sadness or complaint about something.
"He bemoaned the drought but went on watering his lawn."
"“I am sure you are better off without Mr. Hogg,” Helena would say often when Georgina bemoaned her husband’s desertion."
— Muriel Spark (1957)
2
To feel troubled or anxious for someone because of what has happened to them.
"“He is come to the town in order to marry a hapless maiden. The lady must be bemoaned.”"
— Tanith Lee, Children of the Night (1987)
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Etymology
Came into English from Middle English bemenen, bimenen, from Old English bemǣnan (“to bemoan, bewail, lament”), equivalent to be- (“about, concerning”) plus moan. The vowel changed between Middle and Modern English by analogy with moan.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bemoan
See all rhymes for bemoan →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of bemoan?
"bemoan" (verb) means to express sadness or complaint about something.
What is another word for bemoan?
Other words for "bemoan" include bewail, lament, deplore.
What are the different meanings of bemoan?
"bemoan" has 2 main meanings: 1. To express sadness or complaint about something; 2. To feel troubled or anxious for someone because of what has happened to them.
