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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.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIt's an expression of regret or sadness.
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What did alack mean in Shakespeare time?
It's an expression of regret and sorrow. Apart from the word "alas", the closest we can come is "too bad!"
What does Shakespeare's word mad-bread mean?
Sorry, Shakespeare did not use that word.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word townsfolk?
Shakespeare does not use the word townsfolk.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?
In a forward direction.
What does shortened word oft mean in shakespeare?
Oft is not a shortened word. Often is a lengthened word. The original word is oft and the form often did not appear until about a century before Shakespeare's day. They are, of course, the same word and mean the same thing.
What did alack mean in Shakespeare time?
It's an expression of regret and sorrow. Apart from the word "alas", the closest we can come is "too bad!"
What does the Hebrew word oi mean?
Oy (אוי) = "Oh" or "Alas"
What does Shakespeare's word mad-bread mean?
Sorry, Shakespeare did not use that word.
What does the latin word ehue mean?
'Eheu' is a Latin interjection meaning 'Alas!'
What does Shakespeare mean by the word townsfolk?
Shakespeare does not use the word townsfolk.
Is alas conjuction?
The word alas is an interjection. It is used to express sorrow.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?
In a forward direction.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word the?
Shakespeare wrote in English. "The" means exactly the same when he used it as it does when you use it.
What is an antonym for the word alas?
fortunately
What is the most quoted quote from Shakespeare?
"Alas, Poor Yorrick, I knew him Horatio..." (misquoted as well)or"To be or not to be, that is the question"
What does shortened word oft mean in shakespeare?
Oft is not a shortened word. Often is a lengthened word. The original word is oft and the form often did not appear until about a century before Shakespeare's day. They are, of course, the same word and mean the same thing.
What does gi' mean in shakespeare plays?
William Shakespeare sometimes uses the word gi in his plays. This word has the same meaning as the word give.
