Lament | You Won't Regret Learning This SAT Word
To lament is to experience great, lasting sorrow in a way that is difficult to keep private.
We’ve got a powerful word today that I hope you haven’t experienced in donkey’s years: LAMENT.
This word appears a fair bit on the SAT and in literature because of its specificity--it expresses a type of sadness that needs to be spoken or expressed outwardly.
📚️ Definition of Lament
Lament (verb): To express deep sorrow, grief, or regret about something, often in a passionate or vocal way. Example: to lament a loss.
Lament (noun): A passionate expression of grief or sorrow, often in the form of a song, poem, or speech. Example: the lament was visible on his face.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Lament
IPA: /ləˈmɛnt/ (See IPA key)
Respelling: luh-MENT
📰 Examples of Lament
Here are some examples of the word lament:
My grandmother would often lament the fact that her children had all moved so far away.
High school students in the class of 2020 still lament the loss of prom and walking for graduation.
The gross and scandalous abuses cast upon the Officers in general—which is reflecting upon me in particular; for suffering misconducts of such extraordinary kinds—and the distant prospects, if any, that I can see, of gaining Honor and Reputation in the Service—are motives which cause me to lament the hour that gave me a Commission: and would induce me at any other time than this, of imminent danger; to resign without one hesitating moment, a command, which I never expect to reap either Honor or Benefit from: But, on the contrary, have almost an absolute certainty of incurring displeasure below: While the murder of poor innocent Babes, and helpless families, may be laid to my account here! — George Washington (1756) in an anything but laconic defense of causing his soldiers to suffer.
Summary: lament (both the noun and the verb) is very close to regret, which conveniently is also a noun and verb.