Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • An exclamation expressive of regret or sorrow. Also written alack the day.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • interjection An exclamation expressing sorrow.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • "The lady all unready, alackaday!" put in the Honourable Isabel, from behind a fan to hide imaginary blushes.

    A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 William MacLeod Raine 1912

  • Editors nowadays were often surprised in their sanctums by committees of three from some pestiferous unwomanly club or other, and they had not come, alackaday, to have their handkerchiefs picked up with courtly speeches, graced with an apt quotation from "Maud."

    V. V.'s Eyes Henry Sydnor Harrison 1905

  • Its reduction to absurdity may be found (alackaday!) in _Fors Clavigera_ for June 1, 1874.

    America To-day, Observations and Reflections William Archer 1890

  • But, alackaday! there are no more wise men left to us, like good Father

    Pepper & Salt or, Seasoning for Young Folk Howard Pyle 1882

  • But alas and alackaday for the instability of youthful affection!

    The Holy Cross and Other Tales Eugene Field 1872

  • Dammit, gonna need a volunteer drag queen ... yes, my brain is frantically scrabbling around trying to find things that might be more itneresting than the ending of All the Windwracked Stars.) (Which is what I need to go work on right now, alackaday.)

    link salad, big essplosions edition greygirlbeast 2007

  • We’ve raved about the what it was and how it came to pass that we agreed or disagreed with authored words, sought agreement or dispersed our discontent but hear me out – the theme, alackaday, is just a trite and weary conversation piece – and nothing less.

    Archive 2007-10-01 Ivan Donn Carswell 2007

  • "Alas! and likewise alackaday (which is an approximately synonymous expression)!

    The Red Thumb Mark 1902

Comments

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  • "Alackaday," the father murmured, "what happened?" And Yorick, his flabbergasted parents hunched over him, told them his shameful story.

    - William Steig, The Toy Brother

    September 15, 2008

  • Related to "alas and alack"?

    January 3, 2011

  • Or lackadaisical?

    January 3, 2011