Used to express grief, condemnation, pity, regret, concern, or surprise.

Expressing sorrow, distress, or regret. Now also: expressing resignation or exasperation.

Originally: expressing sorrow or regret. Later: expressing annoyed dismissal or disregard, exasperation, etc. och how!: ‘alas!’.

alack the day: used to express grief, concern, or regret at the events of a particular day; (later more generally) used to express surprise or dismay…

ay me! = Alas! Ah me!—an ejaculation of regret, sorrow, pity.

Used as an exclamation of regret, in allusion to 1 Sam. iv. 21 (she named the child Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory is departed from Israel’).

deary me! an extension of dear me! usually more sorrowful in its tone.