\Woe\, n. [OE. wo, wa, woo, AS. w[=a], interj.; akin to D.
wee, OS. & OHG. w[=e], G. weh, Icel. vei, Dan. vee, Sw. ve,
Goth. wai; cf. L. vae, Gr. ?. [root]128. Cf. {Wail}.]
[Formerly written also {wo}.]
1. Grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity.
         Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, Sad
         instrument of all our woe, she took.  --Milton.
         [They] weep each other's woe.         --Pope.
2. A curse; a malediction.
         Can there be a woe or curse in all the stores of
         vengeance equal to the malignity of such a practice?
                                               --South.
Note: Woe is used in denunciation, and in exclamations of
      sorrow. `` Woe is me! for I am undone.'' --Isa. vi. 5.
            O! woe were us alive [i.e., in life]. --Chaucer.
            Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! --Isa.
                                               xlv. 9.
{Woe worth}, Woe be to. See {Worth}, v. i.
         Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, That costs
         thy life, my gallant gray!            --Sir W.
                                               Scott.

\Woe\, a.
Woeful; sorrowful. [Obs.]
      His clerk was woe to do that deed.       --Robert of
                                               Brunne.
      Woe was this knight and sorrowfully he sighed.
                                               --Chaucer.
      And looking up he waxed wondrous woe.    --Spenser.