alackaday

Alackaday, the old clock has stopped ticking.

Definition

1. Interjection:
   • An exclamation of sorrow, regret, or lamentation: "alackaday" is an archaic term used to express grief, disappointment, or pity. It is a stronger, more poetic form of "alack" (which itself means "alas").

Usage Examples

• Interjection:
  • Alackaday! The king has fallen ill, and the kingdom is in despair. (Expressing sorrow or lament over a misfortune.)
  • Alackaday, I have lost my dearest friend to the sea. (A poetic expression of deep regret or loss.)

Advanced Usage

• "alack and alackaday": a rhetorical intensification of the lament, often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
  • Alack and alackaday! What cruel fate has befallen us? (A doubled expression of profound sorrow.)

Variants and Related Words

• Alack (interjection): a shorter form meaning "alas" or "woe."
  • Alack, I cannot undo what has been done. (A simpler lament.)

Synonyms

• Alas: an exclamation of sorrow, pity, or concern.
• Woe: an expression of grief or distress (often used as "woe is me").
• Oh dear: a mild modern expression of dismay or regret.

Related Idioms

• Alack-a-day: (archaic) an alternative spelling of "alackaday," used with the same meaning.
  • Alack-a-day, the harvest has failed once more. (Lamenting a recurring misfortune.)

Note on Usage

This word is now considered archaic and poetic. It appears primarily in older literature (e.g., Shakespearean or Victorian texts) or in deliberate stylistic imitation of such works. It is not used in modern everyday conversation.