Alack
/əˈlæk/noun
An archaic exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay.
Did you know?Alack is historically tied to the old exclamation 'lack' meaning 'alas' or 'woe,' showing how English once turned raw emotion into a spoken charm of grief.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
lāc?
“An exclamation of sorrow or regret (attested in forms like 'alāc' in Middle English tradition, though the exact early form is uncertain).”
Middle English
ME
alac
“An exclamation expressing grief, pity, or lamentation.”
14th Century
English
alack
“A cry of sorrow or dismay, often used in poetry and drama.”
Modern English
English
alack
“An archaic or literary exclamation of regret or distress.”