- Main Entry:
- 1sor·row
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈsär-(ˌ)ō, ˈsȯr-\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Middle English sorow, from Old English sorg; akin to Old High German sorga sorrow
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a: deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved b: resultant unhappy or unpleasant state <to their great sorrow they could not marry>2: a cause of grief or sadness3: a display of grief or sadness
synonyms sorrow,
grief,
anguish,
woe,
regret mean distress of mind.
sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse
<a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death>.
grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause
<the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents>.
anguish suggests torturing grief or dread
<the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child>.
woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery
<cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city>.
regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse
<nagging regret for missed opportunities>.
