sāriġ
The Old English word behind "sorry" is sāriġ, which meant "sad, grieved". To apologise, people asked for forgiveness: forġif mē, "forgive me".
Unlike the modern English use of "sorry" for minor slips, sāriġ carried real grief, sorrow or pain. Say iċ eom sāriġ (I am sorrowful) for deep regret and forġif mē for an everyday apology.
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is built from sār, "sore, pain", with the adjective ending -iġ.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective sāriġ changes its ending: wē sind sāriġe means "we are sorrowful".
Did you know?
- Because sārĭg was an adjective describing a state of being, you could not use it as a standalone exclamation like 'Sorry!' to apologize for bumping into someone.
- The word comes from sār , 'sore, pain', which is why 'sorry' and 'sore' look alike. 'Sorry' is not related to 'sorrow', which comes from sorg .
Example conversation
Eadric accidentally knocks over a cup of water.
- EadricForġif mē, Ēadgyþ, ic dyde þis.Forgive me, Eadgyth, I did this.
- EadgythHit nis nāht, Ēadric.It is nothing, Eadric.
- EadricIc wille hit clǣnsian.I will clean it.
- EadgythNe bēo þū sāriġ.Do not be sorry.
