from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sorry \Sor"ry\, a. [Compar. {Sorrier}; superl. {Sorriest}.] [OE.
sory, sary, AS. s[=a]rig, fr. s[=a]r, n., sore. See {Sore},
n. & a. The original sense was, painful; hence, miserable,
sad.]
1. Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil;
feeling regret; -- now generally used to express light
grief or affliction, but formerly often used to express
deeper feeling. "I am sorry for my sins." --Piers Plowman.
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Ye were made sorry after a godly manner. --2 Cor.
vii. 9.
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I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the duke's
pleasure. --Shak.
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She entered, were he lief or sorry. --Spenser.
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2. Melancholy; dismal; gloomy; mournful. --Spenser.
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All full of chirking was this sorry place.
--Chaucer.
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3. Poor; mean; worthless; as, a sorry excuse. "With sorry
grace." --Chaucer.
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Cheeks of sorry grain will serve. --Milton.
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Good fruit will sometimes grow on a sorry tree.
--Sir W.
Scott.
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Syn: Hurt; afflicted; mortified; vexed; chagrined;
melancholy; dismal; poor; mean; pitiful.
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