Lexical Definition

‎κλαίω‎ klaíō (klah'-yo) to weep ^G:V
of uncertain affinity

bewail, weep.

• to sob, i.e. wail aloud (whereas 1145 is rather to cry silently)

Abbott-Smith

κλαίω, [in LXX chiefly for בּכה;]
of any loud expression of pain or sorrow, esp. for the dead, to weep, lament;
(a) intrans.: Mk 5:38, 39 14:72 (M, Pr., 131) [10](/btb/interlinear/41%20-%20Mark/16/Mark.16.10.html)], Lk 7:13, 32, 38 8:52, Jo 11:31, 33 16:20 20:11, 13, 15 Ac 9:39 21:13, I Co 7:30, Phl 3:18, Ja 4:9 5:1, Re 5:5 18:15, 19; πολύ, Re 5:4; πολλά, Ac 8:24 (WH, mg.); πικρῶς, Mt 26:75, Lk 22:62; opp. to γελάω, Lk 6:21, 25; χαίρω, Ro 12:15; seq. ἐπί, c. acc., Lk 19:41 23:28, Re 18:9;
(b) trans., c. acc. pers., to weep or lament for, bewail: Mt 2:18.†
SYN.: v.s. δακρύω.

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

κλαίω,

old Attic dialect κλάω (see. below) [ᾱ] never contracted; Aeolic dialect κλαΐω [Refs]; Epic dialect 2nd pers. singular optative κλαίοισθα [Refs 8th c.BC+]imperfect ἔκλᾱον, Epic dialect κλαῖον [Refs 8th c.BC+], Ionic dialect κλαίεσκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]future κλαύσομαι, 2nd pers. singular κλαύσῃ or κλαύσει, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Attic dialect also κλαιήσω [NT+4th c.BC+]aorist ἔκλαυσα, Epic dialect κλαῦσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—middle, aorist ἐκλαυσάμην [Refs 7th c.BC+]:—passive, future κλαυσθήσομαι [LXX+5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐκλαύσθην [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: perfect κέκλαυμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+] is recognized as Attic dialect by [Refs 2nd c.AD+], and is found in codices of [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__I intransitive, cry, wail, lament, of any loud expression of pain or sorrow, κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως [Refs 8th c.BC+]; for the dead, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; διὰ τί οἱ κλαίοντες ὀξὺ φθέγγοντα; [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of infants, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of crying for joy, κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἁδινώτερον ἤ τ᾽ οἰωνοί κτλ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__I.2 αὐτὸν κλαίοντα ἀφήσω [Refs] shall send him home crying, howling, i.e. well beaten, [Refs 8th c.BC+] he shall howl, i.e. he shall suffer for it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κλαύσει μακρά you shall howl loudly, i.e. suffer severely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κλαίων to your sorrow or loss, at your peril, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κλάειν ἔγωγέ σε λέγω (opposed to χαίρειν σοι λέγω) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σέ δ᾽ ἐᾶν κλάειν μακρὰ τὴν κεφαλήν suffer terribly in the head, [Refs]
__II transitive, weep for, lament, κλαῖεν ἔπειτ᾽ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— passive, to be mourned or lamented, ἀνδρὸς εὖ κεκλαυμένου [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 cry for, of infants, μάμμας καὶ τιτθάς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__III middle, bewail oneself, weep aloud, [Refs 4th c.BC+]perfect participle passive κεκλαυμένος bathed in tears, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.2 transitive, bewail to oneself, πάθη.. πόλλ᾽ ἔγωγ᾽ ἐκλαυσάμην [Refs 4th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: John.16.20 ☩ LXX.Ps.77.64*}