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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bewail, Bewale, v. Also: bewaill, beuaill, bevail; beuale, bevale; beweall. [ME. bi-, by-, bewaile, -weilen (c 1300). f. Wail v. In Sc. chiefly in poetry. prob. under Eng. influence.]

1. tr. To wail over; to lament. Also with that.(a) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 169/13.
So that we mycht … mak him to bewaile That [etc.] 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 5.
Quha … may bewail tha sorowis al a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 57.
Thus hering hir bewailing all hir wo(b) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 171/22.
I may … bevale mony men 1513 Doug. i. iv. 101.
Thai Bewalit thar feris 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. vi.
Of erdlie stait bewaling thus the chance 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 184.
The deathis … wer grittumlie bevalit 1600-1610 Melvill 139.
Mr Andro beualit this so grait a loss Ib. 429.
Yie venturars, beweall his tragedie

2. intr. To make lamentation. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 50.
Now lachis, now benaillis Id. Æn. v. xiv. 81.
Bewaland gretly in his mynde 1560 Rolland Seven S. 88/25.
His sisteris … sair did weip … and bewaill 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 194.
To greit and bevail

Hence Bewailing, vbl. n., Bewailit, p.p. — 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 48.
Huge bewalyng Ib. vii. xii. 133.
The bewalit cleir lakis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 239/5.
Greit sturt and beuailling