alas

¹

[ uh-las, uh-lahs ]

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation to express sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil.)

Alas.

²

abbreviation for

1. Alaska.

Alas.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Alaska

alas

²

/ əˈlæs /

sentence connector

1. unfortunately; regrettably

   there were, alas, none left

interjection

1. an exclamation of grief, compassion, or alarm

Word History and Origins

Origin of alas¹

1225–75; Middle English < Old French ( h ) a las!, equivalent to ( h ) a ah + las wretched < Latin lassus weary; alack

Word History and Origins

Origin of alas¹

C13: from Old French ha las! oh wretched!; las from Latin lassus weary

Example Sentences

The same, alas, is also true for the people who back Trump over the humanity over their supposed real-world loved ones.

From Salon

There were hundreds of witnesses — but alas for the world, evidently no TV news cameras, which would never happen now, in the age of cellphone videography.

From Los Angeles Times

The fan retorted, “No, it’s shocking,” but alas, the line had already gone dead.

From Los Angeles Times

This group of players took some major psychological hits in Germany and, alas, the hits are still coming.

From BBC

But alas, this is a self-soothing lie Republicans are telling themselves.

From Salon