Woe
/woʊ/noun
A feeling of great sorrow or distress.
Did you know?In medieval times, 'woe' was often linked to curses and spells, highlighting the power of words to evoke deep emotional states.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weḱ-
“to be strong, to be able, often associated with emotional strength and suffering.”
Old English
Old English
wōa
“sorrow, distress, or misery.”
Middle English
Middle English
woe
“a term for deep grief, often used in poetry and lamentation.”
Modern English
English
woe
“remains as a term for profound sorrow, especially in literary contexts.”