sorrowful

[sor-uh-fuhl, sawr-]

full of or feeling sorrow; grieved; sad.

showing or expressing sorrow; mournful; plaintive: a sorrowful song.

involving or causing sorrow; distressing: a sorrowful event.

Origin of sorrowful

before 900; Middle English sorowful, Old English sorgful. See sorrow, -ful

Related formssor·row·ful·ly, adverbsor·row·ful·ness, nouno·ver·sor·row·ful, adjectiveo·ver·sor·row·ful·ly, adverbo·ver·sor·row·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

It is also one of the few places in Georgia where the sorrowful beauty of the call to prayer still can be heard.
The Secret Life of an ISIS Warlord
Will Cathcart, Vazha Tavberidze, Nino Burchuladze
October 27, 2014
He was consumed by a sorrowful bitterness and cynicism that could only be responded to with large purses.
Bloody Brilliant
Stanley Crouch
April 24, 2009

The meeting between the two friends was as joyful as their parting had been sorrowful.
Life in London
Edwin Hodder
But, while he was in this sorrowful mood, he heard a voice close beside him.
The Gorgon's Head
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Never never had he forgotten his father's sorrowful and upbraiding look.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
His listening attitude had a sort of angular and sorrowful grace.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
And Caleb plodded up the stairs after her with his head down, amazed and sorrowful.
Meadow Grass
Alice Brown

Word Origin and History for sorrowful

adj.

Old English sorgful "sad, anxious, careful; distressing, doleful;" see sorrow (n.) + -ful. Related: Sorrowfully; sorowfulness.