woebegone[wō′bē gôn′, -bi-]
- The definition of woebegone is an appearance that is sad, tearful or wretched.
- An example of someone woebegone is an owner who has lost his dog.
- An example of someone woebegone is a patient who just heard that he has one month to live.
- An example of something woebegone is a very old car that has huge rust spots and barely runs.
- Feeling, showing, or expressing deep sorrow, grief, or wretchedness: “He was woebegone at the thought of losing my mother's voice from the choir” (John Irving). See Synonyms at sad.
- Of an inferior or deplorable condition: a rundown, woebegone old shack.
Origin of woebegoneMiddle English wo begon, beset with woe : wo, woe; see woe + begon, past participle of begon, to beset (from Old English begān : be-, be- + gān, to go; see Go 1).
(comparative more woebegone, superlative most woebegone)
Old English, “woe has beset me", from wo (“woe") + begon (“to beset, to surround")