Forms: (see quots. and the adj.). [f. SORROWFUL a. + -NESS.] The state of feeling sorrowful; grief, sadness, melancholy.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 110. Seoruhfulnesse made him siken sore.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22560. Þan behoves all folk to dei, Thoru sorfulnes þat þai sal drei.
13[?]. in Rel. Ant., II. 226. The day of rykenyng … ys day of wreythe, of wo, of soroufolnesse.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. iii. 17. Forsothe sum sorewfulnesse was shed about to the man.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 218. In frenesy, in Dreddys, in Soroufulnesse.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 271. That we dispose ourselfe in sorowfulnesse of herte to receyue his grace.
a. 1608. Dee, Relat. Spir., I. (1659), 234. In token of hearty sorrowfulnesse for his fault.
1648. Hexham, II. Bedroeftheyt, Greefe,… Sorrowfullnesse.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Mournfulness, sorrowfulness.
1832. L. Hunt, Poems, Pref. p. lv. All are the one common story of sorrowfulness.
