wellaway
- interjection
- Archaic
:
ay
- She fell to her knees, sobbing and repeating wellaway as the news sank in.
Examples
-
Oh, wellaway! I can't believe she's gone.
-
In ancient tales, characters often exclaimed wellaway when faced with tragedy.
-
Hearing of the village's destruction, the old woman cried out wellaway in despair.
-
He sighed, saying, wellaway, what a tragic day.
-
Hearing of the village's destruction, the old woman cried out wellaway in despair.
-
In ancient tales, characters often exclaimed wellaway when faced with tragedy.
-
She fell to her knees, sobbing and repeating wellaway as the news sank in.
Synonyms
29
8.7
Short sound people make when they feel sorry or disappointed
1
9.9
An old word people say to show sadness or regret
1
9.9
A word you say to show regret, surprise, or disappointment
1
8.8
A soft sound people make to show sympathy for someone
A cry that shows grief or pity
An old word people say to show they feel sorry or sad
Antonyms
- Informal
People say it to show great happiness or excitement, often as a joke
Surface Forms
Etymology
Wellaway was an old cry of 'sorrow'. A helpful way to remember it is to see the parts well and away and imagine a deep well of feeling 'pouring away' as tears, which is why the word was used as a loud cry of grief.