Bewail - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Bewail
[ 1,,G2799, klaio ]to wail," whether with tears or any external expression of grief, is regularly translated "weep" in the RV; once in the AV it is rendered "bewail," Revelation 18:9. See WEEP.
Note: The associated noun is klauthmos, "weeping." Cp. dakruo, "to weep," John 11:35.
[ 2,,G2875, kopto ]
primarily, "to beat, smite;" then, "to cut off," Matthew 21:8; Mark 11:8, is used in the Middle Voice, of beating oneself, beating the breast, as a token of grief; hence, "to bewail," Matthew 11:17 (RV, "mourn," for AV, "lament"); Matthew 24:30, "mourn;" Revelation 1:7 (RV, "mourn;" AV, "wail"); in Luke 8:52; Luke 23:27 "bewail;" in Revelation 18:9, "wail" (for AV, "lament"). See CUT, MOURN. Cp. kopetos, "lamentation," Acts 8:2.
[ 3,,G3996, pentheo ]
denotes "to lament, mourn," especially for the dead; in 2 Corinthians 12:21, RV, "mourn" (AV, "bewail"). See also Revelation 18:11, Revelation 18:15, Revelation 18:19. Cp. penthos, "mourning." See MOURN.
Notes:
(1) Threneo, "to sing a dirge, to lament," is rendered "wail" in Matthew 11:17, RV; "mourned" in Luke 7:32; "to lament" in Luke 23:27; John 16:20. Threnos, "lamentation," occurs in Matthew 2:18.
(2) Odurmos from oduromai, "to wail" (a verb not found in the NT), denotes "mourning," Matthew 2:18; 2 Corinthians 7:7.
(3) Cp. lupeomai, "to grieve;" See also Trench, Syn. lxv.