ABSTRACT
Mourning is one of mankind’s oldest concepts. Two of our ancient languages capture its root meaning: in Sanskrit, “to remember” and in Greek, “to care.” Mourning is a common emotion evoked by the universal experience of loss. I use the word to refer to a process of adaptation in which the behavioral expressions and the cognitive meanings change over time. To grieve (to be burdened by sorrow) or to be bereaved (to be robbed of someone or something precious) are part of, but only part of, the mourning process.
