sorrowful

[sor-uh-fuh l, sawr-]

adjective

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

1. unhappy, grieving. 2. melancholy. 3. piteous, heartbreaking.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Romney manages to speak highly and sorrowfully of the freedom agenda, and thus to praise Bush.
Arab Spring Comment Was a Romney Love Letter to the Israeli Right Wing
Michael Tomasky
July 28, 2012
He was a dissident,” Havel told me sorrowfully “before he was a man.
Vaclav Havel Was Torn Between Socialism and Freedom
Geoffrey Robertson
December 22, 2011

"I shall not know when morning comes," said he, sorrowfully.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Do you know, if I disappeared tonight, there's not a soul—" said Jenny, sorrowfully.
Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon
Hall Caine
The lad came forward into the light, and eyed Sir Crispin sorrowfully.
The Tavern Knight
Rafael Sabatini
He said his fish-hook had lost its charm and sorrowfully he took it away with him in his canoe.
Legends of Wailuku
Charlotte Hapai
"Ah, you say you do, yet you refuse to do as I wish you," sorrowfully replied the siren.
Victor's Triumph
Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth

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