Definition of sorrow

The word "sorrow" is derived from the Old English word "sōr," which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root "*surō." This root, meaning "to grive" or "to be sorrowful," is also the origin of the Old Norse word "sorg" and the Old High German word "souaron." The semantic development of the word "sorrow" can be traced through Middle English, where it referred specifically to physical pain or anguish. By the 15th century, it had come to encompass more broadly the emotional distress that we associate with the term today. In Renaissance English, "sorrow" was often used interchangeably with "mourning" to describe the grieving process following the death of a loved one. This usage can be seen in William Shakespeare's plays, particularly in his famous tragedy "Romeo and Juliet," where Juliet utters the famous line, "O happiness! . . . O wretched mortal, / That wound'st thy friend and foiled / Thy sorrow!" Overall, the evolution of the word "sorrow" reflects the complex emotional landscape that humans have always experienced, from the physical pain of loss to the deeper emotional and spiritual pains that accompany it.