English Dictionary

Definition of “sorrow

sorrow (ˈsɒrəʊPronunciation for sorrow

Definitions

noun

  1. the characteristic feeling of sadness, grief, or regret associated with loss, bereavement, sympathy for another's suffering, for an injury done, etc
  2. a particular cause or source of regret, grief, etc
  3.  Also called sorrowingthe outward expression of grief or sadness

verb

  1. (intr) to mourn or grieve

Alternative Forms

ˈsorrower noun ˈsorrowful adjective ˈsorrowfully adverb ˈsorrowfulness noun

Word Origin

Old English sorg;  related to Old Norse sorg,  Gothic saurga,  Old High German sworga

Quotations

  • "There is no greater sorrow than to recall a time of happiness in misery" Dante
  • "Into each life some rain must fall" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • "Sorrow makes us wise" Alfred Tennyson
  • "Sorrow is tranquillity remembered in emotion" Dorothy Parker

Usage examples

  • He would have read of the death or maiming, back in America, and felt great sorrow.
    Bringle, Mary, Death of an Unknown Man (1987)
  • Remorse is not a word large enough to get near what he feels for their (the families of victims) sorrow.
    India Today (2003)
  • Pastor Wendell Wiebe said: "We've had a number of days of tremendous grief and sorrow.
    canada.com (2005)
  • Even Ground Zero looks more like an urban renewal site than 16 acres of unspeakable sorrow.
    Glasgow Herald (2002)
  • And the news of her death after much suffering was greeted by the King without any show of guilt or sorrow.
    Jane Dunn, ELIZABETH AND MARY: Cousins, Rivals, Queens (2003)

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