Conclamatio

Conclamatio was the cry of lamentation which the ancient Romans made over their dead. As soon as the eyes were closed in death, the relatives of the deceased who happened to be present called upon him by name several times at intervals, repeating ave, hail, or vale, farewell. Hence when any affair was desperate, the phrase was frequently used in reference to this practice, conclamatum est, i.e., "all is over." SEE MOURNING.