beweep: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / Archaic / LiteraryLiterary, Poetic, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “beweep” mean?
To weep over.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To weep over; to lament or mourn with tears.
To shed tears for, to express grief or sorrow through weeping, often used in a poetic or literary context to describe deep, prolonged sorrow.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern difference; the word is equally archaic and literary in both variants. Historical usage may be found in earlier British literary works.
Connotations
Connotes deep, often Shakespearean or formal poetic grief.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing in both regions. Occurs almost exclusively in historical texts, poetry, or deliberate archaic pastiche.
Grammar
How to Use “beweep” in a Sentence
Subject + beweep + Direct Object (e.g., She bewept her fate.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beweep” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She would often beweep the king's untimely death.
- In the sonnet, he beweeps his lonely fate.
American English
- The poem describes a lover who beweeps his lost chances.
- To beweep one's outcast state is a theme in Shakespeare.
adverb
British English
- No established adverbial form.
American English
- No established adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- No established adjectival form.
American English
- No established adjectival form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in literary analysis of historical texts.
Everyday
Not used; would sound strange or pretentious.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beweep”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'He bewept.' is incomplete).
- Using it in modern, informal contexts.
- Misspelling as 'be weep' (two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or purely literary. You will encounter it almost exclusively in older poetry, like Shakespeare's works.
Almost never. It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (you beweep *something*).
The opening line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 29: 'When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, / I all alone beweep my outcast state...'
Only if you are writing poetry or prose with a deliberately archaic, Shakespearean, or highly formal literary style. In all other contexts, use modern synonyms like 'mourn', 'lament', or 'cry over'.
To weep over.
Beweep is usually literary, poetic, archaic in register.
Beweep: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈwiːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈwip/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common modern idioms. Historical/poetic use stands alone]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BE (completely) + WEEP. To be completely in a state of weeping over something.
Conceptual Metaphor
SORROW IS A FLUID (tears) THAT ONE POURS OUT OVER AN OBJECT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the verb 'beweep' be MOST appropriate?