woeful

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective affected by or full of grief or woe; - George du Maurier
  2. adjective of very poor quality or condition

Etymology

From Middle English woful, waful, equivalent to woe + -ful. Compare Old English wālīċ (“woeful”), Old English tēonful (“woeful”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

woebegone

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