sorry

English

/ˈsɔɹi/, /ˈsɒɹi/, /ˈsɑɹi/

adj
Definitions
  • (of a person) Regretful for an action; grieved or saddened, especially by the loss of something or someone.
  • Poor, pitifully sad or regrettable.
  • Pathetic and inferior to the point of causing others disgust.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English sory inherited from Old English sāriġ (mournful, feeling expressing grief, bitter, sorrowful, sorry, grieved, sad) inherited from Proto-Germanic *sairagaz (sad) derived from Proto-Indo-European *sayǝw- (rough, painful, hard) suffix from English sore (reddish-brown).

Origin

English

sore

Gloss

reddish-brown

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms