Sor"rel, n. [F. surelle, fr. sur sour, fr. OHG. s&?;r sour. See Sour.] (Bot.) One of various plants having a sour juice; especially, a plant of the genus Rumex, as Rumex Acetosa, Rumex Acetosella, etc.
Mountain sorrel. (Bot.) See under Mountain. -- Red sorrel. (Bot.) (a) A malvaceous plant (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) whose acid calyxes and capsules are used in the West Indies for making tarts and acid drinks. (b) A troublesome weed (Rumex Acetosella), also called sheep sorrel. -- Salt of sorrel (Chem.), binoxalate of potassa; -- so called because obtained from the juice of Rumex Acetosella, or Rumex Axetosa. -- Sorrel tree (Bot.), a small ericaceous tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) whose leaves resemble those of the peach and have a sour taste. It is common along the Alleghanies. Called also sourwood. -- Wood sorrel (Bot.), any plant of the genus Oxalis.
Sor"ren"to work` (?). Ornamental work, mostly carved in olivewood, decorated with inlay, made at or near Sorrento, Italy. Hence, more rarely, jig-saw work and the like done anywhere.
Sor"ri*ly (?), adv. In a sorry manner; poorly.
Thy pipe, O Pan, shall help, though I sing sorrily.
Sir P. Sidney.
Sor"ri*ness, n. The quality or state of being sorry.
Sor"row (?), n. [OE. sorwe, sorewe, sor&?;e, AS. sorg, sorh; akin to D. zorg care, anxiety, OS. sorga, OHG. sorga, soraga, suorga, G. sorge, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sorg, Goth. saúrga; of unknown origin.] The uneasiness or pain of mind which is produced by the loss of any good, real or supposed, or by diseappointment in the expectation of good; grief at having suffered or occasioned evil; regret; unhappiness; sadness. Milton.
How great a sorrow suffereth now Arcite!
Chaucer.
The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment.
Rambler.
Syn. -- Grief; unhappiness; regret; sadness; heaviness; mourning; affliction. See Affliction, and Grief.
Sor"row, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sorrowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sorrowing.] [OE. sorowen, sorwen, sorhen, AS. sorgian; akin to Goth. saúrgan. See Sorrow, n.] To feel pain of mind in consequence of evil experienced, feared, or done; to grieve; to be sad; to be sorry.
Sorrowing most of all . . . that they should see his face no more.
Acts xx. 38.
I desire no man to sorrow for me.
Sir J. Hayward.
Sor"rowed (?) (&?;), a. Accompanied with sorrow; sorrowful. [Obs.] Shak.
Sor"row*ful (?), a. [OE. sorweful, AS. sorgful.] 1. Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed. "This sorrowful prisoner." Chaucer.
My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.
Matt. xxvi. 38.
2. Producing sorrow; exciting grief; mournful; lamentable; grievous; as, a sorrowful accident.
Syn. -- Sad; mournful; dismal; disconsolate; drear; dreary; grievous; lamentable; doleful; distressing.
-- Sor"row*ful*ly, adv. -- Sor"row*ful*ness, n.
Sor"row*less, a. Free from sorrow.
Sor"ry (?), a. [Compar. Sorrier (?); superl. Sorriest.] [OE. sory, sary, AS. srig, fr. sr, n., sore. See Sore, n. & a. The original sense was, painful; hence, miserable, sad.] 1. Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil; feeling regret; -- now generally used to express light grief or affliction, but formerly often used to express deeper feeling. "I am sorry for my sins." Piers Plowman.
Ye were made sorry after a godly manner.
The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.