mourning — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act of expressing or feeling sorrow or regret; lamentation.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. Specifically, the act of expressing or feeling sorrow regarding a death or loss.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   A blind bearing the monogram G.V.T. is pulled down over the waiting room window as if still in mourning for the passing of the railway.

3. A social state or period that acknowledges a recent bereavement, which may involve social withdrawal, the observance of customs or rituals related to bereavement, etc.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.

   Unsurprisingly for a man who went into mourning for three years after the death in 1994 of his own father, the legendary leader Kim Il-sung, and who in the first 30 years of his political career made no public statements, even to his own people, Kim's career is riddled with claims, counter claims, speculation, and contradiction. There are few hard facts about his birth and early years.

4. The traditional clothes worn by those who mourn (in Western societies, typically coloured black).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   "My greatest wish now," she added, "is to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it."

   ‘I'm bored. I can't go out anywhere because it's too soon and I have to wear this disgusting mourning.’

5. A drape or covering associated with mourning.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

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

Adjective

1. sorrowful through loss or deprivation

   Synonyms

   bereavedbereftgrief-strickengrievingsorrowing

   Examples

   bereft of hope

Noun

1. state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

   Synonyms

   bereavement

   Broader terms

   sadnesssorrowsorrowfulness

2. the passionate and demonstrative activity of expressing grief

   Synonyms

   lamentation

   Broader terms

   activityexpressionmanifestationreflectionreflexion