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mourning

- 7 dictionary results

mourn⋅ing

  [mawr-ning, mohr-]
Use mourning in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act of a person who mourns; sorrowing or lamentation.
2. the conventional manifestation of sorrow for a person's death, esp. by the wearing of black clothes or a black armband, the hanging of flags at half-mast, etc.
3. the outward symbols of such sorrow, as black garments.
4. the period or interval during which a person grieves or formally expresses grief, as by wearing black garments.
–adjective
5. of, pertaining to, or used in mourning.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME (n., adj.); OE murnung (n.). See mourn, -ing 1 , -ing 2

Related forms:
mourn⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Antonyms:
1. rejoicing.

mourn

  [mawrn, mohrn]
–verb (used without object)
1. to feel or express sorrow or grief.
2. to grieve or lament for the dead.
3. to show the conventional or usual signs of sorrow over a person's death.
–verb (used with object)
4. to feel or express sorrow or grief over (misfortune, loss, or anything regretted); deplore.
5. to grieve or lament over (the dead).
6. to utter in a sorrowful manner.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME mo(u)rnen, OE murnan; c. OHG mornēn, ON morna, Goth maurnan

Synonyms:
1. bewail, bemoan. See grieve.

Antonyms:
1. laugh, rejoice.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To mourning
mourn   (môrn, mōrn)   
v.   mourned, mourn·ing, mourns

v.   intr.
  1. To feel or express grief or sorrow. See Synonyms at grieve.
  2. To show grief for a death by conventional signs, as by wearing black clothes.
  3. To make a low, indistinct, mournful sound. Used especially of a dove.
v.   tr.
  1. To feel or express deep regret for: mourned the wasted years.
  2. To grieve over (someone who has died).
  3. To utter sorrowfully.

[Middle English mournen, from Old English murnan; see (s)mer-1 in Indo-European roots.]
mourn'er n., mourn'ing·ly adv.
mourn·ing   (môr'nĭng, mōr'-)   
n.  
  1. The actions or expressions of one who has suffered a bereavement.
  2. Conventional outward signs of grief for the dead, such as a black armband or black clothes.
  3. The period during which a death is mourned.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Mourning

Mourn"ing\, n. [AS. murnung.]

1. The act of sorrowing or expressing grief; lamentation; sorrow.

2. Garb, drapery, or emblems indicative of grief, esp. clothing or a badge of somber black.

The houses to their tops with black were spread, And ev'n the pavements were with mourning hid. --Dryden.

Deep mourning. See under Deep.

Mourning

Mourn"ing\, a. 1. Grieving; sorrowing; lamenting.

2. Employed to express sorrow or grief; worn or used as appropriate to the condition of one bereaved or sorrowing; as, mourning garments; a mourning ring; a mourning pin, and the like.

Mourning bride (Bot.), a garden flower (Scabiosa atropurpurea) with dark purple or crimson flowers in flattened heads.

Mourning dove (Zo["o]l.), a wild dove (Zenaidura macroura) found throughout the United States; -- so named from its plaintive note. Called also Carolina dove. See Illust. under Dove.

Mourning warbler (Zo["o]l.), an American ground warbler (Geothlypis Philadelphia). The male has the head, neck, and chest, deep ash-gray, mixed with black on the throat and chest; other lower parts are pure yellow.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : mourning
Spanish: luto, duelo,
German: die Trauer,
Japanese: 服喪
More Translations »

mourning

formal demonstration of grief at the death of a person, practiced in most societies. Mourners are usually relatives, although they may be friends or members of the community. Mourning rites, which are of varying duration and rationale, usually weigh more heavily on women than on men. Mourners may deny themselves certain amusement, ornaments, or food. They may practice sexual continence or keep vigil over the body of the deceased. Changes in garb, such as black robes, and alterations in hairstyle may distinguish mourners, but such evidences of mourning have declined in many societies.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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