alas
UK[əˈlæs]US[əˈlæs]
interj
An expression of sadness, regret, grief, or pity.
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.
Examples
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.