I. ˈsär-(ˌ)ō, ˈsȯr- 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 sadness
3. : 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
II. intransitive verb
Date: before 12th century
: to feel or express sorrow
• sor·row·er ˈsär-ə-wər, ˈsȯr- noun