Meanings
comparative more lamentably · superlative most lamentably
- Regrettably; in a manner deserving or inspiring lamentation.
Lamentably the good too die; we will all mourn his passing.
- archaicWith lamentation.
He spoke learnedly and lamentably upon the evils and inconveniences of his own profession, […]
1834, [George Payne Rainsford James], chapter XII, in The Life and Adventures of John Marston Hall, volume I, London: […] Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longman, […], →OCLC, page 1602 more examples
[S]he […] lamentably recounted to hym all the felonyes / and iniuries done to her by ſyr Hewe Spencer […]
1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Howe the Quene of Ingland Went and Complayned Her to the Kyng of Fraunce Her Brother of Syr Hewe Spencer”, in Here Begynneth the First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart: Of the Cronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne⸝ Portyngale⸝ Scotlande⸝ Bretayne⸝ Flañders: And Other Places Adioynynge. […], 1st volume, London: […] Richarde Pynson⸝ […], →OCLC; reprinted as The First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart of the Chronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne (The English Experience […]; no. 257), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio ii, verso, column 2I loue a ballad but euen too well, if it be dolefull matter merrily ſet downe: or a very pleaſant thing indeede, and ſung lamentably.
c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 292, column 2
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbin an unfortunate or deplorable manner
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishlamentably
- Englishlamentably
From Middle English lamentably, equivalent to lamentable + -ly.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
lamentably. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lamentably
“lamentably.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lamentably. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lamentably,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lamentably.
Source: lamentably on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.