Mourning
/ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/noun
The expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, mourning rituals were believed to help the spirits of the deceased transition to the afterlife, intertwining the living and the dead in a sacred bond.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mr̥tós
“Dead, from the root meaning 'to die'.”
Latin
Latin
mors
“Death, the end of life.”
Old English
Old English
murnan
“To grieve or lament.”
Middle English
Middle English
mournynge
“The act of grieving or expressing sorrow for the dead.”
Modern English
English
mourning
“The expression of sorrow, especially for someone who has died.”