woe /wəʊ $ woʊ/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: wa ]
1 . woes [plural] formal the problems and troubles affecting someone:
the country’s economic woes
2 . [uncountable] literary great sadness
3 . woe is me spoken humorous used to say that you are extremely unhappy or in a difficult situation
4 . woe betide somebody British English used to warn someone that there will be trouble if they do something – especially used humorously:
Woe betide anyone who smokes in our house!