wellaway

[ wel-uh-wey ]

interjection

, Archaic.

1. (used to express sorrow.)

wellaway

/ ˈwɛləˈweɪ /

interjection

1. archaic.
   woe! alas!

Word History and Origins

Origin of wellaway¹

before 900; Middle English we ( i ) lawei, Old English weilāwei ( wei < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vei woe ), replacing Old English wā lā wā woe! lo! woe!

Word History and Origins

Origin of wellaway¹

Old English, from wei lā wei, variant of wā lā wā, literally: woe! lo woe