All 15 Uses
lament
in
The Iliad
(Auto-generated)
- His chief councilor is Nestor from Pylos, an aged king given to lamenting that he no longer has the strength of his youth.†
Book Intr. *lamenting = expressing grief or regret
- This adds depth to the poem's decision to close with his funeral, and the laments on this occasion show that Hektor is not only Troy's best fighter but the figure through whom Homer brings out the domestic cost of the war.†
Book Intr.laments = expresses grief or regret
- So in Hekabe's lament for Hektor, the old names, at once archaic and somehow familiar, are the main adornment of the verse: "Akhilleus captured other sons of mine / in other years, and sold them overseas / to Samos, Imbros, and the smoky island, / Lemnos.†
Book Intr.lament = express grief or regret
- Then Nestor, lord of Gerenia, charioteer, addressed them: "Lamentable, the way you men have talked, like boys, like children, strangers to stern war.†
Book 2lamentable = regrettablestandard suffix: The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.
- Here is another point: ponder it well: best not confuse my heart with lamentation for Agamemnon, whom you must not honor; you would be hateful to me, dear as you are.†
Book 9lamentation = passionate expression of grief or sorrow
- Akhilleus led them in their lamentation, laying those hands deadly to enemies upon the breast of his old friend, with groans at every breath, bereft as a lioness whose whelps a hunter seized out of a thicket; late in returning, she will grieve, and roam through many meandering valleys on his track in hope of finding him; heart-stinging anger carries her away.†
Book 18
- But while you lie here by the swanlike ships, night and day, close by, deep-breasted women of Troy, and Dardan women, must lament and weep hot tears, all those whom we acquired by labor in assault, by the long spear, pillaging the fat market towns of men.†
Book 18lament = express grief or regret
- Piteously his father groaned, and round him lamentation spread throughout the town, most like the clamor to be heard if Ilion's towers, top to bottom, seethed in flames.†
Book 22lamentation = passionate expression of grief or sorrow
- Then in her turn Hekabe led the women in lamentation: "Child, I am lost now.†
Book 22
- When we've gained relief in lamentation, we can free the teams and take our evening meal here.†
Book 23
- With one voice they all cried out in sorrow, and he led them, driving their teams with wind-blown maiies three times around the body, weeping, and among them Thetis roused their longing to lament.†
Book 23lament = express grief or regret
- Then Iris at his bidding ran on the rainy winds to bear the word of Zeus, until she came to Priam's house and heard voices in lamentation.†
Book 24lamentation = passionate expression of grief or sorrow
- Now she lamented: "You've been torn from life, my husband, in young manhood, and you leave me empty in our hall.†
Book 24lamented = expressed grief or regret
- Hekabe lifted her lamenting voice among them: "Hektor, dearest of sons to me, in life you had the favor of the immortal gods, and they have cared for you in death as well.†
Book 24lamenting = expressing grief or regret
- Then it was Helen's turn to make lament: "Dear Hektor, dearest brother to me by far!†
Book 24lament = express grief or regret
Definitions:
-
(1)
(lament) to express grief or regret
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Although lament typically refers to a feeling or simple vocal expression, it can refer to a vocal expression as complex as a sad song or poem. It can even refer to sad, but non-vocal music -- as when Tennessee Williams references background music in A Streetcar Named Desire.