Sorry a.

Forms: α. 1 sariʓ, sarʓ-, 1–3 sari, 3 særȝ-, særi, seri; north. and Sc. 4–5 sari, 4–6, 8 sarie, sary, 8–9 sairy, 6, 9 sairie. β. 3–5 sori, 3–7 sorie, sory, 6 sorye, soarye; 5– sorry, 6–7 sorrie. [OE. sáriʓ (f. sár SORE sb.¹), = OS. sêrag (MLG. sêrich, LG. sêrig), OHG. sêrag (MHG. sêrec, G. dial. sêrich, etc.), WFris. searich, sore, pained, sensitive, etc. In English the change of ā to ō and subsequent shortening have given the word an apparent connection with SORROW sb.]

  1.  Pained at heart; distressed, sad; full of grief or sorrow.

  In later use freq. in weakened sense, and often employed in the phrase ‘I’m sorry’ to express mere sympathy or apology.

  α.  c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 7. Ða sceolde se hearpere weorðan swa sariʓ þæt he ne meahte onʓemong oðrum monnum bion.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xlviii. 17. Þa Iosep ʓeseah [etc.],… he wearð swiðe sari.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1114. Þa wæron hi swa sari swa hi næfre ær ne wæron.

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 69. Ðies ȝunge mann ȝiede a-wei sari.

c. 1205.  Lay., 28459. Wenhauer þa quene, særȝest wimmonne.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 408. Swilc tiding ðhugte adam god, And sumdel quemeð it his seri mood.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20378. Sai now broþer, suet iohan, Qui ertu sa sari man?

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems (ed. Hall), vii. 88. Ful sari was sir Philip þen.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 570. Þe childe was sary and þerfore grett.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxiv. 37. Lat ws in hairt nevir moir be sary.

a. 1585.  Montgomery, Flyting, 474. Seuin ȝeir, it sat, baith singed and sairie.

  β.  c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 117. He forbed his apostles … þat hie neren noht sorie.

c. 1275.  Passion our Lord, 147, in O. E. Misc. Þo hi hedden al þis iherd heo were ful sori.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 2161. Al sori mark gan go Til he miȝt tristrem kisse.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 458. Ay the more strong that the fleisch is, the sorier may the soule be.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 6746. No soryer man in erth may dwel Than I.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XVII. xvii. 714*. Thenne was not he a lytel sory, for launcelot loued hym.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Esdras xiii. 13. There came moch people vnto him: some were glad, some were sory.

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 60. In sight of thee soarye parents hee fel to the groundward.

a. 1628.  F. Grevil, Cælica, lxxiv. Sadly clad for Sorrowe’s glory, Making joy glad to be sorie.

1780.  Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 379. As to the party, I do not wonder that they are sorry.

1820.  Byron, Blues, II. 1. Was there ever a man who was married so sorry?

1870.  Dickens, E. Drood, iii. You seem to be sorry, Rosa.

  Prov.  14[?].  Lat. & Eng. Prov. (MS. Douce 52), fol. 20 b. As long leuyth a mery man as a sory.

  b.  absol. in sing. or pl.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Crist, 1510. Sarʓe ʓe ne sohton.

c. 1000.  Ags. Psalter (Thorpe), liv. 1. Ne forseoh æfre sariʓes bene.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 24861. Þaa sori loked ai sua for-suonken.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 190. Þus bed þe Do-bet,… Sike with þe sory, singe with þe glade.

  c.  In association with sick.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 326. For þer ne is syk ne sory … Þat he ne may [etc.].

1405.  Lay Folks Mass Bk., 65. For al that er sek and sary.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xlviii. 333. Whanne I was seke and soriest.

1529.  Frith, Antithesis, 303. So that they go away sorrier and sicker in soul and in purse than they were before.

1876.  T. Hardy, Ethelberta, II. xlvii. 259. Looking as sick and sorry as a lily with a slug in its stalk.

  2.  With various constructions:

  a.  With at, for, † of, = on account of, by reason of; also with for, = on behalf of, in sympathy with.

  (a)  c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., x. Se is swiðe sariʓ for ðinum earfoðum.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxxii. 136. Þæt land-folc … wurdon swiðe sariʓe for his sleʓe on mode.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13989. Bruttes weoren særi [v.r. sori] for swulchere isihðe.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7051. Þer uore þe king uor is deþ þe soriore was.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 65. He wes off his eschap sary.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 488. Envye … is sory of alle the bountees of his neighbor.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2068. The pouer wer sory of that dooyng.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxiv. 515. Moche sori was thadmyrall for the dethe of margaris.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 49 b. Yf any man wer sory of the duke of Burgoyns death.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. v. 4. The captaines … being very sorie for it had restored vnto him that which was taken.

1654–66.  Earl Orrery, Parthenissa (1676), 776. I was sorry at his Death.

1806.  Ann. Rev., IV. 202. We are sorry at observing references to Bryant.

1879.  Gladstone, Glean., II. iii. 168. Much more I am sorrier for my good knight’s loss.

  (b)  c. 1375.  Cursor M., 12433 (Fairf.). Ioseph … was ful sary for þe childe.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Poge, xi. Allas, sayd the mayde, I am sory for yow.

1592.  Kyd, Span. Trag., III. v. I am in a sorte sorie for thee.

1675.  J. Owen, Indwelling Sin, xvii. (1732), 229. He considering his Condition, tells him, Alas! I am sorry for you.

1715.  De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. iv. (1841), I. 86. Well Sister, I am sorry for you.

1827.  Scott, Chron. Canongate, iv. The house was old and dilapidated, and looked sorry for itself.

1882.  Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, I. vi. 157. I think we all feel sorrier for him than for many a better man.

  b.  With substantive clause.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 222. Þis monekes … sori were & wroþe ynouȝ, þat we hadde so longe ibeo.

13[?].  K. Alis., 6140 (Laud MS.). Þe kyng was sory … Þat he ne miȝth ȝiue hem bataile.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1082, Dido. [She] seyde … that sche sory was That he hath had swych peryl.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 665. I am sary … at þi fourme Is lickenand on na lym … to my selfe.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 47 b. I am somwhat sory that kyng Henries seruantes of the seller made not maister Enguerant drinke.

1567–8.  Abp. Parker, Corr. (Parker Soc.), 310. But I am sorry he can so soon conceive displeasantly against me.

1663.  S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxxi. (1687), 371. Very sorry they were that it was not possible for them always to accompany him.

1673.  Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, IV. i. I am sorry we shall not have one course together at the herd.

1797.  Mrs. A. M. Bennett, Beggar Girl (1813), II. 101. She was … sorry doctor Cameron objected to her maternal arrangements.

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lviii. I am sorry … that the Emperor’s commands admit of no such delay.

  c.  With infinitive.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 353. Of this aventure … Min herte is sory forto hiere.

1535.  Starkey, Lett., in England (1878), p. xix. For sory hys hyghnes wold be to see you not to reche vn-to so manyfest a truthe.

1555.  Eden, Decades (Arb.), 53. They are sory to occupie the whyppe yf thou mightest otherwyse bee brought to obedience.

1670.  Lady M. Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 21. I am very sorry to heare that the small pox increase.

1769.  Junius Lett., iii. (1788), 47. I am sorry to tell you … that, in this article, your first fact is false.

1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, VIII. ii. I shall not be sorry to hear it.

c. 1835.  Syd. Smith, Lett. on Sir J. Mackintosh, Wks. 1859, II. 302/1. I am sorry to say I have none to send you.

1861.  J. Pycroft, Agony Point (1862), 419. There were not a few little ways and snuggeries that they felt sorry to be about to leave.

  † 3.  Expressive or suggestive of distress or sorrow.

Beowulf, 2447. Þonne he ʓyd wrece, sariʓne sang.

c. 1000.  Ags. Psalter (Thorpe), lv. 7. Ic … sette on ðinre ʓesyhðe sariʓe tearas.

13[?].  Cursor M., 15169 (Gött.). Mani sari sigh … sank tille his herte.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 315. Yf he ne hade pitee of mannes soule, a sory song we myght all synge.

1388.  Wyclif, Gen. xl. 7. Whi is ȝoure face soriere to dai than it ys wont?

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 115. With sobbinge and with sory teres This lord goth thanne an humble pas.

1561.  Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, IV. ii. But what doth meane The sory chere of her that here doth come?

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 89. Quhen sall my hart ceis of this sorie sang?

  † 4.  Causing distress or sorrow; painful, grievous, dismal. Obs.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 110. Þe stiche of sori & seoruhful pine.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1974. Ðo iacob saȝ dat sori writ, He gret.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7296. Þere hii smite to gadere, & made a sori pley.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2922. Þat sari sight was on to se.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3696. So þroli a sori þouȝt þirled min hert.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 47. Thus was the hors in sori plit.

a. 1400.  King & Hermit, 191. I ne hade neuer so sory a dey, That i ne had a mery nyȝt.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6754. Halfdene kyng of danmarke Made in Ingland sary warke.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, III. iv. 13. The fluid of Stix, that sory place.

1575.  Gascoigne, Herbes, Wks. (1587), 163. I must indite A wofull case, a chip of sorie chance.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., II. ii. 19. This is a sorry sight. Lady. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

  5.  Vile, wretched, worthless, mean, poor; of little account or value: a. Of persons, (a) in general character or (b) in some special respect.

  (a)  c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1074. Ðo sori wrecches of yuel blod wulden him ðor gret strengðe don.

c. 1325.  Body & Soul, 96, in Map’s Poems (Camden), 348. Hy shal … tholien harde pinen wyth that sory Judas.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 1252. ‘Rest,’ quaþ sche, ‘þow sory wyȝt, god ȝyue yuele chaunce!’

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4417. Loo, sary sottis, slike a sowme of synnars ȝe lufe!

c. 1500.  Birched Sch.-boy, in Babees Bk. (1868), 404. My master lokith as he were madde: ‘wher hast thou be, thow sory ladde?’

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 38. What a shame it were … to swarve from that religion … at the motion of a sory Frere.

1579.  Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 445. There is … one sorie boy, that helpeth y^e priest to Masse.

1624.  Gataker, Transubst., 102. Whom they themselues account to be but a sorry obscure fellow.

1673.  Cave, Prim. Chr., I. iii. 49. The Christians were such a sorry inconsiderable people.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), III. 66. Continue Esquire. It is a respectable addition, although every sorry fellow assumes it!

1856.  Emerson, Eng. Traits, Aristocracy, Wks. (Bohn), II. 85. The baron … grew fat and wanton, and a sorry brute.

1886.  Athenæum, 30 Oct., 562/2. His hero is a sorry knave, without principle or rectitude.

  (b)  a. 1425.  Cursor M., 19199 (Trin.). Seruauntis elles be we sory.

c. 1555.  Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 170. A dialogue between a sorry doting divine and a sorry lewd lawyer.

1597.  Gerarde, Herball, II. clxxxvii. 501. A poore sorie Barbar, who had no more skill than he had learned by tradition.

1652–62.  Heylyn, Cosmogr., II. (1682), 104/2. A sorry Gainer by the undertaking.

1672.  W. Allen, Peace & Unity, 82–3. We know what sorry Saints many of them appeared to be.

1706.  E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 10. Tho’ he’s but a very sorry Horse-man, yet he’s mightily given to the Chase.

1835.  Marryat, J. Faithful, xxi. I shall prove but a sorry sweetheart, for I never made love in my life.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 155. I am a sorry physician, and do but aggravate a disorder which I am seeking to cure.

  b.  Of things.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 807. Þe find … said within his sari thoght, ‘Ic haue him don to suinc for noght.’

1396–7.  in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1907), XXII. 296. Pride with his sori genealogie of dedly synnes.

c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, lv. 326. For ho-so entreth in to this place, he may ben siker of sory grace.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 33. Sori loue haue she that tellithe not the name of hym that last praied her.

1530.  Palsgr., 209. Cosshe, a sorie house, cauerne.

1565.  T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 90. It is not inough to make a few sory surmises.

1621.  in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), I. 339. A sorrie some for a Governour to borrowe.

1656.  Jeanes, Mixt. Schol. Div., 8. Thus, you see, that the feare of men hath … a poore, a sorry, and contemptible object.

1716–8.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett., I. xviii. 58. It is very good luck to get one sorry room in a miserable tavern.

1771.  Mackenzie, Man Feel., xiv. I was forced to beg my bread; and a sorry trade I found it.

1825.  Waterton, Wand. S. Amer. (1882), 163. It makes the historian cut a sorry figure.

1849.  Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, iii. That she now wrote the sorriest hand imaginable.

1889.  Gretton, Memory’s Harkback, 153. You can put up with a sorry lodging for yourself, but beware of a bad stable for your steed.

  c.  Of animals, esp. horses.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Fables, Lion & Mouse, xiii. Unhailsum meit is of ane sarie Mous.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lv. 18. Sum … Ar now maid tame lyk ony lammis, And settin down lyk sarye crockis.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 38. Than mayst thou take thy sory weyke ewe awaye, and put her in an other place.

1547.  Salesbury, Oenyn, a sory lambe.

1673.  Cave, Prim. Chr., I. i. 12. Trampled on by the sorriest Creatures, Mice, Swallows, &c.

1742.  Hume, Ess. (1870), xxiii. 158. One man, with a couple of sorry horses.

1760.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. x. Mounted … upon a lean, sorry, jack-ass of a horse.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xi. 92. Sir P. staked his handsome horse against A.’s sorry poney.

1849.  E. E. Napier, Excurs. S. Africa, I. 290. Mounted on very sorry hacks.

1875.  trans. Comte de Paris’ Civ. War Amer., I. 295. The sorrier the horses the greater the consumption.

  6.  As sb. An exclamation of ‘(I am) sorry.’

1834.  Mar. Edgeworth, Helen, xxxv. A too fast hazarded broadside of questions and answers—glads and sorrys in chain-shots that did no execution.

  7.  Comb., as sorry-flowered, -hearted, -looking.

1382.  Wyclif, Prov. vii. 7. I beholde the sori hertid ȝunge man. Ibid., ix. 17. And to the sory hertid she spac [etc.].

1786.  Abercrombie, Arr., 51, in Gard. Assist. Miserable, or sorry-flowered [aster].

1844.  Ld. Houghton, Poems of Many Years, 242.

1903.  Daily Chron., 10 June, 9/3. A mangy and altogether sorry-looking object.