I. ˈwelə|wā interjection
Etymology: Middle English welaway, weleaway, alteration (influenced by wel well and away ) of weilawei, from Old English weilāwei, literally, woe! lo! woe!, alteration (influenced by Old Norse vei woe) of wālāwā, from wā woe + lā lo + wā woe — more at well , woe
— used to express sorrow or lamentation
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English welaway, from welaway, interjection
: lament
whispering her sad wellaway — Thomas Woolner