'QUAINT LAMENT' is a phrase that can be used to describe a sorrowful expression of regret or sadness. The word 'ALAS' is often used to express such feelings, and it is fitting that it is the four-letter solution to this crossword puzzle. This phrase is often used to describe a situation in which someone is feeling regretful or sad about something that has happened. It can also be used to describe a situation in which someone is expressing their sorrow for something that has been lost or taken away.