alas

/ə'lɑ:s/

Thân thiện

Alas, the picnic was canceled due to the sudden rain.

Definition

Interjection An exclamation used to express sorrow, grief, regret, pity, or concern about a situation. It often introduces bad news or a lament.

Usage

"Alas" is a formal or literary word used to express a feeling of sadness or disappointment. It is typically placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence to emphasize the unfortunate nature of what follows.

Examples

• Alas, the beautiful old building was demolished last year.
• He wanted to travel the world, but alas, he never had the money.
• The plan was perfect. Alas, it was not to be.
• I looked for my keys everywhere. Alas, they were not to be found.

Advanced Usage

• "Alas and alack": An archaic, more emphatic form expressing deep sorrow or regret.
  • "Alas and alack," cried the knight, "the treasure is lost forever!"

Variants and Related Words

• Alack (interjection): An archaic synonym for "alas," now rarely used outside of historical contexts or the phrase "alas and alack."

Synonyms

• Unfortunately
• Regrettably
• Sadly
• Unhappily

Idioms and Phrases

• Alas, poor...: A famous phrase from Shakespeare's ("Alas, poor Yorick!"), often used humorously or ironically to mockingly lament something.
  • Alas, poor coffee maker, you served me well for ten years.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. by bad luck
   • unfortunately it rained all day
   • alas, I cannot stay

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unfortunately
• unluckily
• regrettably