An exclamation expressive of sorrow.
Alas and alack means sadly or too bad.
alack, it's true-the only good restaurant in town is closing.
sorrow,regret & dismay
yes
An exclamation expressive of sorrow, pity, or apprehension of evil; -- in old writers, sometimes followed by day or white; alas the day, like alack a day, or alas the white.
From Shakespear's "The Merchant of Venice"
This line is from William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet". Juliet says this when she learns of Romeo being banished from Verona, lamenting the unfairness of the situation.
"Alas, alack, allay" is an expression that combines three archaic interjections. "Alas" conveys sorrow or regret, "alack" expresses disappointment or concern, and "allay" means to diminish or calm. This phrase is often used in literature or poetry to evoke a sense of melancholy or lamentation. It reflects the speaker's emotional state, typically in response to a troubling situation.
He is the secretary to the king. He only has about 4-5 lines in the play.
"Alas and alack! I am confounded again!", exclaimed Thomas Edison.
It is an expression of dismay, like "Oh, dear!" or "Oh, crap!"
It's an expression of sadness and regret. It often suggests that the situation is unfortunate, and so is somewhat similar to the way we might use "unfortunately". It often appears in the expression "alack the day". Examples: It would beseem the Lord Northumberland To say 'King Richard:' alack the heavy day When such a sacred king should hide his head. (Richard II) Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead! We are undone, lady, we are undone! Alack the day! he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead! (Romeo and Juliet) But his flaw'd heart (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) 'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly. (King Lear) Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed Confounds us. (Macbeth) Thou bring'st me happiness and peace, son John; But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown From this bare wither'd trunk. (Henry IV Part II) It is sort of like "Alas" with which it can be used interchangeably.