a. [ Compar. Sorrier superl. Sorriest. ] [ OE. sory, sary, AS. sārig, fr. sār, n., sore. See Sore, n. & a. The original sense was, painful; hence, miserable, sad. ] 1. Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil; feeling regret; -- now generally used to express light grief or affliction, but formerly often used to express deeper feeling. “I am sorry for my sins.” Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye were made sorry after a godly manner. 2 Cor. vii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the duke's pleasure. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

She entered, were he lief or sorry. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Melancholy; dismal; gloomy; mournful. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

All full of chirking was this sorry place. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Poor; mean; worthless; as, a sorry excuse. “With sorry grace.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cheeks of sorry grain will serve. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Good fruit will sometimes grow on a sorry tree. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Hurt; afflicted; mortified; vexed; chagrined; melancholy; dismal; poor; mean; pitiful. [ 1913 Webster ]