(a) The action of crying aloud; inarticulate moaning or wailing; also, a cry, groan, etc. produced by someone giving expression to sorrow or pain; ~ and wo, wepinge and ~, etc.; in-ward ~, ?a heartfelt expression of sorrow [literal transl. of L ingemitus]; (b) the action of bewailing one’s sins, deploring one’s iniquity, imploring God to pardon one’s transgressions, etc.; penitential weeping, the audible expression of remorse or repentance, sorrow at separation from God; also in fig. context; ~ and wepinge, wepinge and ~; (c) the action of mourning, esp. ritually, for the dead; the audible expression of grief at bereavement; pl. ritualized shows of mourning; cries of grief; ~ cloth, a garment worn by a ritual mourner; ~ of teres, tearful keening, tears accompanied by keening; (d) a prophetic utterance in the form of a dirge; pl. Bibl. the name of a collection of laments or funeral dirges; (e) grief, sorrow; wretchedness; also, an occasion for sorrow or wailing; an affliction [quot. ?a1425].