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ESLBeginner Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Does 'weep' mean 'shed tears'?

Hi, I in the past thought 'weep' means 'shed tears'; but today I see an article saying 'the rock wept tears'. So now I doubt 'weep' just means 'shed', not 'shed tears', otherwise 'the rock wept tears' would equal to 'the rock shed tears tears'. So would someone please tell me the exact meaning of 'weep'? Thanks!
  

Top answer

Yes, it means to shed tears. It is obviously used here in a figurative manner, a literary device known as personification , attributing human characteristics to non-human forms.

— Philip

  • Yes, it means to shed tears.
  • It is obviously used here in a figurative manner, a literary device known as personification , attributing human characteristics to non-human forms.
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3 Answers
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Yes, it means to shed tears. It is obviously used here in a figurative manner, a literary device known as personification, attributing human characteristics to non-human forms.
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Thanks for telling me the word 'personification'; but I mean, if 'weep' already means 'shed tears', why would someone say 'weep tears'? here the word 'tears' is duplicated because 'weep' already equals to 'shed tears'?
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ESLBeginnerThanks for telling me the word 'personification'; but I mean, if 'weep' already means 'shed tears', why would someone say 'weep tears'? here the word 'tears' is duplicated because 'weep' already equals to 'shed tears'?

Good point! Perhaps for emphasis? Also, "wept tears of joy" sounds fine to me.
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