Middle English Dictionary Entry
sorweful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sorweful adj. Also sorwefol(le, sorghful, sor-, -vol, sourful, sore-, sorro-, soroufulle, soru-, -fol, -vel, soriful, sorȝfulle, -fol, (K) zorȝvol(le & sariful & serful, sereu(h)ful, seruh-, seruȝ- & (early) sorfol(le, sorhful(l)e, sorehful(le, sorchful(e, sorechful, sorþfulle, -folle, serhful, sereh-, serrufol, seorfule, seorhful(e, -fulle, seoruhfule, (infl.) sorhfulne, seorh-, seoruh- & (error) sohfolle; comp. (early) sorhfulre, etc. & seoruhfulure; sup. sorwefuleste, etc. & sorufulhest, sarfulest. |
| Etymology | OE sorhfull, sorgful. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For other forms see sorwe n.
1.
(a) Of a person, deity, city: emotionally distressed, unhappy, sad, grieving; anxious; of the heart, spirit, etc.: troubled, grieved; (b) expressing sorrow; (c) causing sorrow, grievous, lamentable; also, worthy of pity, pitiful, piteous; ~ sword, fig. a sword of sorrow; (d) associated with sorrow, filled with or accompanied by sadness; (e) as noun: a sorrowful person, one who grieves, one who is unhappy; also, sorrowful people; (f) as adv.: sadly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7153 : He wass forrdredd & serrhfull inn hiss herrte.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8945 : Witt hafenn sohht te widewhar..Wiþþ serrhfull herrte & sariȝ mod.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)740 : Þe king wes swiðe særi & seorhful [Otho: sohfolle] on mode.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)123/1077 : Te meidenes..wið sari mod & sorhful..leoten teares treondlin.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)47/1 : Sorhful [Nero: seo-ruhful; Cleo: sorchful] ich am & sari þet ich hit schal seggen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)159/23 : He mei beon muche deale sorhfulre [Nero: seoruhfulure; Cleo: sorechfulre; Cai: seorhfulre] þet haueð..islein godd inwið his sawle.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)6332 : Þo was þat folk sori and sorþfolle on heorte; nadden hii neuere here so mochel care.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)148/4 : Zorȝuol sselt þo by to þe kuedes þet oþre ueleþ and doþ.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2065 : Alisaundrine..was sorwful in herte.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Bar.4.8 : Ȝee han maad sorewful [WB(2): maden sori; L contristastis] Jerusalem, ȝour nurshe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.161 : Whanne Sextus hadde i-doo þat dede, þe womman goþ hir wey sorwful [vr. sorfol] and drery.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.433 : Oon..axede hym why he satte allone and soruful [vr. sourful; L mœstus] on a stoon in such a tyme.
- c1390 NHom.Abp.& N.(Vrn)207 : So sereuhful was þis Bisschope, þat almost he fel in wonhope.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2098 : Damyan Bicomen is the sorwefulleste [vrr. sorwefuleste, sorowfullest, sorwfulhest] man That euere was.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.986 : With inne his brest ful sorweful [vr. soryful] was the goost.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16857 : To þe rode þai went þam priueli, þar sorfullest [Ld: sorowfullest; Göt: sorfulest; Trin-C: sorwefulest] of all þai faand, sent iohn and mari.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3612 : Hym þouȝt platly þat his sorful herte Recurles wold riue a-twyne.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)17b/a : Contristor: to be mad sorȝfol or greued.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)22a/b : Dolorosus: sorwefol.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.142 : Þan shal ȝe be soreuful, but ȝoure sorewe shal turne to joie.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.12.39 : The thre goddesses, furiis and vengeresses..woxen sorweful and sory, and wepyn teeris for pite.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2187 : We founde as sorowful a town and as gretly dismayed and discoraged as any might be..as poeuple desolat and cast out of al comfort of any socour to be had from your said mageste.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2770 : What deseysse is come þe to þat þou art now so sorwefolle a mone?
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)14 : For sorwful ymagynacioun Ys alway hooly in my mynde.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)15/2 : Wepe ȝe wt hem þt wepyn & ben soryful.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1983 : With sorowfull hert, Beryn toke his hors.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)763/22 : He was..sorowful a parte to go frome the felyshyp of sir Trystram.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1880 : Vp she rose..With sorofull hert and care Inough, Carefull of blood and bone.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)230/19 : Tho that haue the browes negh to-gyddyr bene heuy and Sorrofull of chere.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)113/105 : It gladeth thilke sorouful herte on suche love to thinke.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)523 : Pandrasus answerede mid seorhfulle worden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7262 : Bruttes..him to sæiden mid sorh-fule [Otho: sorþfulle] steuene, [etc.].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)146/2 : Wið sorhfule [Cleo: sorchfule; Nero: seoruhfule] sikes..grede on ure lauerd.
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)3 : Þo spec þæ gost wid drery mod & wid serruful chere.
- a1300 Serm.Liþer lok (Trin-C B.1.45)105 : I sal þenkin o..te manie soruful teris, þat he gret for reunesse of hem.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.83 : Hungir-bitte he goth awai Wiþ mani sorful tere.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6324 : Þai wende þe king yslawe ware, And maden diol and sorweful fare.
- c1390(?a1325) LChart.Chr.A (Vrn)651/182 : Whon I my cosyn hire bi-toke heo caste me mony a serwful loke.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1353 : She spak..With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere In hir compleinte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)277a/b : His hound..abood wiþ þe dede body wiþ doelful and sorweful [L mestos] noyse and ȝollynge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2686 : Triste & hevy, with a sorful chere, Þe gan þe slauȝter of Hector to compleine.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1168 : With sorweful vois..He seyde how she was fro this world yfare.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)67a/a : Trinotus: sorwfol.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1832 : In habit swich as women used tho Unto the buryinge of hire frendes go, She sit in halle with a sorweful sighte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)465 : Sorowfulle..gemibundus.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)45 : Wykked men..Wiþ repentaunce and sorwful soun May launce hem from þe deuelys bande.
- (1450) Paston2.35 : I..am right sory..and haue..wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)515/698 : An soryfull song, in faythe, shall he senge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2704 : She said hym full sadly with sorowfull wordys, All shuld turne hym to tene.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1141 : Ic liðde mid þine fader & ledde his ferde moni swinc, moni swæt, monine seorhfulne pleiȝe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1993 : Swiðe heo was sari for sorehfulle þan slehte.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)60/19 : Inwið his seli sawle..he felde þe stiche of sari sorhe & sorhful [Cleo: sorechful; Nero: seoruhful].
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1089 : Hii tolden him to soþe sorfolle spelles, þat dead was his broþer.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2294 : Þurth þat sorwful sweuene swiþe sche a-waked.
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)173 : Þen sauȝ poul a serwȝful siht.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)973 : Of serwhful heryng boþe gret and smal Vs nouht to drede mak he.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)67b/b : Sekenesses & elde ben elenge & sorweful, for þese tweyne distroyen þe vertu & þe strengþe of þe body.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11371 : Til hir [Mary] he said, 'þin aghen hert A sorful suerd sal stik ouerthuert.'
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2308 : Of al sorwe, sorwefullest excesse Is thilke sorwe that doth a man constreyne, Aftir prosperite, aduersite sodeyne.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)119a : Some ben Ibrend in myddes of water, & þat most sorwfulle is of alle.
- a1450 My trewest tresowre (Cmb Dd.5.64)13 : My salue of my sare sa saryful in syght..Ful hydusly hyngand, þai heued þe on hyght.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)1658 : Sche glyste vp wyth þe hedeows store; A sorowfull wakenyng had sche þore.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)226/10 : Goodis and richesses ben..sorowfull to lose.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)25/29 : A glad goinge oute ofte tymes bringiþ furþe a sorful comyng home.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)113/104 : Moch love is bitter and sorouful er hertes ben esed.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1481 : Me is levere forto deie Than live after this sorghful day.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)16015 : A soroufuller [Göt: sorfuler] niȝt miȝt na man haue.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4744 : A swete helle it [love] is, And a soroufull paradys.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1309 : Þat loue is..swete poyson..Serful ioye and wepynge song.
e
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)26/19 : Þe ich þonki..þe kingene king art..sorhfule & sari & sunfule toturn.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)17263 : Þi choselinges..þu broght Of helle quen þaa sorful soght.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1684 : Juppiter..may do The sorwful [vr. sowrful] to be glad.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)953 : He saluȝede þat sorowfull with sittande wordez.
- a1450 Pore of spirit (Dgb 102)71 : Sorefull and hungry, he fyndeþ hem table.
f
- c1415 Chaucer CT.WB.(Lnsd 851)D.913 : Woo was þis knyht and sorwful he sikeþ.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Ihesu god sone (Cmb Dd.5.64)41 : His lufsum lyf was layde ful low and saryful umbesette.
- a1475 Chaucer Anel.(Lngl 258)207 : Annelada..Vpon a day ful sorowful wepyng..cast hir for to make a complaynyng.
2.
Repentant, remorseful, contrite.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)59/35 : 'Allas,' zayþ saynt bernard, 'huet þer is hier zorȝuolle yelpinge [Vices & V.(2): delful auauntynge].'
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)50.18 : Þou, God, ne shal nouȝt despisen þe hert sorowful and meke.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.7.9 : Now haue I ioye..for ȝe weren maad sorowful to penaunce.
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)149/157 : Tac a prest and do þe schriue Wiþ sereuful herte and repentaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3923 : I haue to longe..Left hem [roses] vnclosid wilfully, Wherfore I am right inwardly Sorowfull, and repente me.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)404 : He may hym nat excuse But asketh mercy with a sorweful herte.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)137/6 : To hem þat were sorefull and in will to [for]sake here synne, to hem he shewed is prevetees.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.25b : Youre seid Suppliant is as repentaunt and sorofull as eny Creature may be.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)146.3 : Contryte of hert ere thai that offirs til him the sacrifice of sorouful gast.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)200/19 : They belewid anone the worde of god, and weryn Sorefull and repentant of thare Synnes.
- a1500 Mirk Fest.Revis.(Hrl 2247)91/258 : And so þat mercifull lorde graunte to all thoo þat woll be contrite and sorowfull for þeire synnes.
3.
(a) Angry, vexed; envious, grudging; (b) wicked, sinful; also, cruel, scornful [quot. ?a1439].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14776 : His clarkes..særimod and sorhfulle, heom sceomeden wel sære þat þat vni-wraste moncun heom iscend hafden.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)40/6 : Þet is ure [demons'] cunde..Beon sorhful & sari for euch monnes selhðe.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1677 : Leir..wraþþede him swiþe and seide þeos wordes, sorȝfulle on mode.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)132/28 : Some..ziggeþ..ich am a kuead..ac yef an oþer him zede..þet is zoþ..zorȝuolle hi wolden by and..wroþe to þe dyaþe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Jas.5.9 : Britheren, nyle ȝe be soreweful ech in to other.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3920 : Þe man þat ys ful of enuye, He ys euer sorowful.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15115 : Quen þe princes and þe riche Wist wel of his fare, þai bicome þan sorfuller [Frf: soroufuller; Göt sorfuler] þan euer war þai are.
- a1400 An ernemorwe (Mert 248)4 : Þe uendus of helle beþ sorwuel & mad Whanne þe kyng, godus sone, Þe strengþe of þe deþ hadde ouercome.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)1b/a : Accidior: to be angre, to be sorful, to wreþþe.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14421 : Carice..louede no pes, ffor he was ai sorwful & wroþ.
- c1475 WBk.Phil.& Astron.(Cmb Ll.4.14)16 : Saturne is a planete derke and malicious..vndir þe constellacion of wyche þe man þat is bore..shall be envyous and soruffull, a traytour, and solitarie.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.34.28b : Ful sorwefull was this Sathanas whan he sawe þat he myght not acheven his desire.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)34/10 : Efter alle þise zorȝuolle poyns of sleuþe, him yefþ þe dyeuel þane strok dyadlych and deþ him into wanhope.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2785 : Þat soruful sin on þam þai thoght Wit þaim to haue don.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14390 : Þe Iues..consail þam omang Oþer him for to hefd or hang..A soruful red fra þan tok þai.
- a1400 PPl.C (LdMisc 656)13.18 : Sorful [Hnt HM 137: ich suluer hadde To restitue resonabliche for al vnryghtful wynnynge].
- a1425(?a1400) Epistle DStirrings (Hrl 674)70/20 : Ȝif..þou or any oþer be so lewid & so bleendid in þe sorouful temptacioons of þe midday deuel, [etc.].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.239 : Mi soruhful lauhtre pleynli was for the.
4.
(a) Unfortunate; miserable, wretched; (b) associated with misfortune, suffering, misery, etc.; hard to endure; (c) grim, gloomy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)49/535 : Ti sari sawle & ti sorhfule gast schal..pleien in helle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)26/31 : Þet grisliche gra..ase sorhfulest [Roy: seorfule] þing sariliche seide..'ne pine þu me na mare.'
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)3/19 : Weile, þet ic souhte so seoruhfulne buc.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)823 : Þis king [Lear] adde iwend aboute in such soruol cas.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)54/3 : Þe mesure of þe purse..is zorȝuol and scarse [Vices & V.(2): wrecched, streiȝt, an scars].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2758 : Sorweful and myshappy is the condicioun of a poore beggere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)112b/b : He [Saturn] is I-peyntid as most sorewful man, for his owne sone geldid him.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4761 : Soruful war þai was na selcuth þat had noght to put in þair mouth.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.89 : Feith fleigh awey..For siȝte of þe sorweful man þat robbed was.
- a1425 Be glad of al (Hnt HM 127)46 : When y schal leue þis soreful lyf, Be to me redy in þat strif, Lady, y þe pray.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)11a/a : Calamitosus: sorful [Pep: Wrechid].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.7.104 : For that the sorwful fortune ne confownde the nat, ne that the myrie fortune ne corumpe the nat, [etc.].
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.156 : Sorwfull alway þe issue is Of all þaire [fleshly lusts] foul voluptuosite.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)105/32 : Leue me noght yn þys desert..þat I dye for hunger and sorwfull threst.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1112 : Hit wæs swiðe hefig tyme & sorhfull þurh ormætne man cwealm.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)185 : Sorehful is ure hider cume and sorilich ure henen sið.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)1/8 : Þet bearn..mænet þeo weowe Ond þene seoruhfule siþ..Þet soule schal [ond li]came sorliche idælen.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6779 : In þis sorweful time..Messangers com to Angvisaunt þe king, And teld him reweful tiding.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.1.27 : The sorwful houre, that is to seyn, the deth, hadde almoost dreynt myn heved.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.2.5 : Thise proude kynges..thow seest..envyrowned with sorwful armures.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)138 : This strem yow ledeth to the sorweful were There as the fish in prysoun is al drye.
5.
(a) Of childbirth, a morbid condition, etc.: physically painful, accompanied or characterized by pain; also in fig. context [quot. c1450]; of pain: intense; ~ bed, fig. a bed of pain, sickbed; (b) of a person, soul, the flesh: suffering pain.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)179 : Serehful is ure burde for eues gulte.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/525 : Hit þenne þer to kimeð, þet sore sorhfule angoise, þet stronge & stinkinde stiche, [etc.].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)16/27 : Ha..hudden hare heafden..under hare mantles for þet seorfule sar þet heo on hire isehen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)86b/a : This sorewful passiouns of teþ..come of vile humours þat beþ in þe brayne.
- c1400 *PPl.C (Trin-C R.3.14)[23.105] f.70a : Many a louely lady..Swonide & swelte for soreweful dentis.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)76/12 : Many accidentes may schewe in ham [apostemes] ful sorwfull and malicious.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.53 : A medecyne þanne þat more myghti es Amenden schal þat malice esilye; Þat sorwfull swellyng lightly schal we lese.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)63 : Y haue leyne yn my sorouful bedde xxxviijti yere, and Jhesu heled me.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3985 : Heo ledden in heore scipen..moni sorh-fulne sæg sare iwunded.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.15 : Caritas..solaceþ alle soules sorghful in purgatorie.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.26.17 : Sche that conseyuede, whanne sche neiȝeth sorewful to the child beryng, crieth in her sorewis.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)230/21 : His [Jesus'] flesch was..sorowful, which suffride turment, but his soule was blessid.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)63/22 : Aftir she lokid up to the cros on high, she wepid ful tendirly and seid, 'Alas, sorouful creature..Swete sonne..whi suffre ye so gret outrage and so gret hidous tormentis?'