wo

Woe Woe, n. [OE. wo, wa, woo, AS. w[=a], interj.; akin to D. wee, OS. & OHG. w[=e], G. weh, Icel. vei, Dan. vee, Sw. ve, Goth. wai; cf. L. vae, Gr. ?. [root]128. Cf. {Wail}.] [Formerly written also {wo}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity. [1913 Webster]

Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, Sad instrument of all our woe, she took. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

[They] weep each other's woe. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. A curse; a malediction. [1913 Webster]

Can there be a woe or curse in all the stores of vengeance equal to the malignity of such a practice? --South. [1913 Webster]

Note: Woe is used in denunciation, and in exclamations of sorrow. `` Woe is me! for I am undone.'' --Isa. vi. 5. [1913 Webster]

O! woe were us alive [i.e., in life]. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! --Isa. xlv. 9. [1913 Webster]

{Woe worth}, Woe be to. See {Worth}, v. i. [1913 Webster]

Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, That costs thy life, my gallant gray! --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]