alas

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“
But he was so ill then--alas, there never was any need to tell him Mrs. Linde_. And since then have you never told your secret to your husband Nora_.

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Definitions (4)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. interjection Used to express sorrow, regret, grief, compassion, or apprehension of danger or evil.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (1)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Uganda and Kampuchea have produced more recent evidence "- alas, the examples of Rwanda, Bosnia and Somalia could be added -" that Hitler's policy of mass murder as an instrument of statecraft was not unique. —  WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
  • † Deferred or otherwise defeated in committee-alas, our man Gerry has a tough time finding fellow travelers out under the dome. —  Madville Times
  • The AT&T Bold is also a large phone and relatively expensive for a 'Berry -- alas, nothing is perfect. —  MobileTechReview
  • But he was so ill then--alas, there never was any need to tell him Mrs. Linde_. And since then have you never told your secret to your husband Nora_. —  A Doll's House
  • To call upon my idols is to call in vain,--alas, alas, what hope remains to me He prayed to the greatest of his idols, and waited in vain for a reply. —  Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala
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This word has been looked up 219 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French a las, helas, ah (I am) miserable, from Latin lassus, weary; see lē- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Early modern English also abbreviation las, lass; from Middle English alas, allas, alaas, allaas, alace, allace, from Old French a las, ha las, hai las (later helas, also abbreviation las; modern F. hélas; = Provencal ai lasso = Italian ahi lasso), from a, ah! (from Latin ah, ah!), + las, wretched, from Latin lassus, weary: see lassitude.
 

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/əˈlæs/
by American Heritage
by peggy tharpe

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