sorrow Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
    • he tried to express his sorrow at her loss
  2. noun sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
    ruefulness; regret; rue.
    • he drank to drown his sorrows
    • he wrote a note expressing his regret
    • to his rue, the error cost him the game
  3. noun something that causes great unhappiness
    grief.
    • her death was a great grief to John
  4. noun the state of being sad
    sadness; sorrowfulness.
    • she tired of his perpetual sadness
  5. verb feel grief
    grieve.

WordNet

Sor"row noun
Etymology
OE. sorwe, sorewe, sore, AS. sorg, sorh; akin to D. zorg care, anxiety, OS. sorga, OHG. sorga, soraga, suorga, G. sorge, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sorg, Goth. saúrga; of unknown origin.
Definitions
  1. The uneasiness or pain of mind which is produced by the loss of any good, real or supposed, or by diseappointment in the expectation of good; grief at having suffered or occasioned evil; regret; unhappiness; sadness. Milton.
    How great a sorrow suffereth now Arcite! Chaucer.
    The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment. Rambler.
    Syn. -- Grief; unhappiness; regret; sadness; heaviness; mourning; affliction. See Affliction, and Grief.
Sor"row intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. sorowen, sorwen, sorhen, AS. sorgian; akin to Goth. saúrgan. See Sorrow, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Sorrowed ; present participle & verbal noun Sorrowing
Definitions
  1. To feel pain of mind in consequence of evil experienced, feared, or done; to grieve; to be sad; to be sorry.
    Sorrowing most of all . . . that they should see his face no more. Acts xx. 38.
    I desire no man to sorrow for me. Sir J. Hayward.

Webster 1913