alas
Meaning
An expression of sadness, regret, grief, or pity.
Usage
Alas, I have forgotten my keys at home.
The project, alas, was canceled due to lack of funding.
He hoped to see her again, but alas, it was not to be.
Etymology
The word 'alas' entered English in the 13th century from Old French 'a las', a cry of lament. This phrase itself was a contraction of 'ah' (an exclamation) and 'las' meaning 'miserable, weary', which derived from the Latin 'lassus' meaning 'weary, faint'. The Latin term can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root lē- meaning 'to let go, slacken'. Thus, the literal sense of weariness and slackening evolved through French into a conventionalized exclamation expressing sorrow or regret in modern English.
Analysis
The word is a simplex interjection borrowed as a whole unit.