alas

¹

[uh-las, uh-lahs]

interjection

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

Alas.

²

abbreviation

1. Alaska.

alas

¹

/ əˈlæs /

1. unfortunately; regrettably

   there were, alas, none left

interjection

1. an exclamation of grief, compassion, or alarm

Alas.

²

abbreviation

1. Alaska

Word History and Origins

Origin of alas¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of alas¹

C13: from Old French ha las! oh wretched!; las from Latin lassus weary

Example Sentences

“I’ve still so much to say in music,” he said to a friend, “alas, I cannot get my ideas onto paper!”

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For if things truly cannot get any worse—and alas, this is rarely the case—why bother being careful?

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She patted her pockets, but alas, there were no biscuits left.

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A few will phone for help; others will panic and require medical assistance themselves; and many, alas, will simply be annoyed that their dinner was interrupted and will tip their waiters ungenerously as a result.

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In the first few weeks, alas, poor Xiang Xiang couldn’t master the skilled panda technique of bamboo eating—he wasted about 75 percent of the edible plant—and probably spent much of those days hungry.

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