Quick Definition
θρηνέω v. I wail, lament
Strong's Definition
from 2355; to bewail
KJV Usage: lament, mourn
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | θροέομαι
25.141 · Attitudes and Emotions · Laugh, Cry, Groan
to wail, to lament to weep or cry, especially in mourning for the dead For another interpretation of θρηνέω in LUK 23:27, see 52.2.
Mourning and wailing for the dead are frequently expressed by a term very different from expressions employed in referring to events not involving death.
33.115 · Communication · Sing, Lament
to sing funeral songs, to chant a dirge to sing or chant expressions of mourning
1 It is possible that θρηνέω[a] should be classified only in Domain 52 Funerals and Burial, in view of the fact that θρηνέω[a] may in many contexts suggest a formal type of ritual expression. 2 ὀδυρμός (52.3) apparently differs in meaning from θρηνέω[c] (52.2) in being less institutionalized and focusing somewhat more upon the wailing at funerals, while θρηνέω[b] denotes the singing of a dirge (see 33.115). See also 33.116 and 25.141. The meanings in Domain 52 differ in that they reflect ritualized wailing.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
θρηνέω thrēneō 4x
to lament, bewail, Mt. 11:17; Lk. 7:32; 23:27; Jn. 16:20*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
θρηνέω, -ῶ
(< θρῆνος), [in LXX chiefly for ילל hi., also for קין pil., etc.;]
intrans., to lament, wail: Mt 11:17, Lk 7:32, Jo 16:20.
Trans., to bewail: c. acc. pers., Lk 23:27.†
SYN.: κλαίω, κόπτομαι, λυπέομαι, πενθέω (v. Tr., Syn., § lxv).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
θρηνέω (thrēneō) — to lament. θρην-έω, future -ήσω[Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 -ησα[Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle (see. below [Refs]: impersonal in perfect passive (see. below): (θρῆνος):—sing a dirge, wail, Μοῦσαι δ᾽ ἐννέα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ θρήνεον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τίς ὁ θρηνήσω; [Refs 4th c.BC+][same place]; τίς.. ἔσθ᾽ ὁ θρηνῶ; [Refs 5th c.BC+] were singing a doleful dirge, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γόον θ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὕμνους, of the nightingale, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, ἅλις μοι τεθρήνηται γόοις [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. c.accusative, bewail, θ. πόνους [NT+5th c.BC+]:—so also middle, ἄκος γὰρ οὐδὲν τόνδε θρηνεῖσθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, to be lamented, [Refs 5th c.BC+]