alas

¹ American  

[uh-las, uh-lahs] / əˈlæs, əˈlɑs /

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation to express sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil.)

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Alas. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Alaska.

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alas ¹ British  

/ əˈlæs /

1. unfortunately; regrettably

   there were, alas, none left

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interjection

1. an exclamation of grief, compassion, or alarm

Alas. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Alaska

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Etymology

Origin of alas

1225–75; Middle English < Old French ( h ) a las!, equivalent to ( h ) a ah + las wretched < Latin lassus weary; alack

Example Sentences

But alas, faithful reader, that is a tale for another day.

From Literature

They show only what markets did during the period studied — so, alas, there are no perfect guarantees.

From MarketWatch

In Los Angeles, alas, we were, last spring, a city of cinders.

From Los Angeles Times

All of which leaves me sounding, alas, like a broken record.

From MarketWatch

Cue a montage of the two of them squabbling that, alas, sets the tone for this movie, which drones much more often than it soars.

From The Wall Street Journal