Now rare. Forms: α. 1 sariʓnys, 2 -nesse, 1–3 sarinesse, 4–5 sarynes; 3 særinesse, -næsse. β. 3–4 sorinisse, 3–6 sori-, sorynesse, 4 sorinysche, 6 -nes; 6, 8– sorriness, 7–8 sorryness. [f. SORRY a. + -NESS.]

1

  † 1.  The state of being sorry; sorrow, grief, sadness; = SORROWFULNESS. Obs.

2

  α.  c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxiii. 102. Hwæt mæʓ beon wop oððe sariʓnys, ʓyf þæt næs se mæsta æʓðres?

3

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. F), an. 616. Far þare sarinesse ðe he hæfðe far þes cinges unʓeleauon.

4

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 103. Þe fifte sunne is Tristicia, þet is þissere worlde sarinesse.

5

c. 1205.  Lay., 27560. Þer wes sarinesse, sorreȝen inoȝe.

6

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter iv. 1. Fra anguys and sarynes þou has broght me.

7

1483.  Cath. Angl., 318/2. A Sarynes, tristicia.

8

  β.  c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 35. Hwile mid sorinesse, hwile mid werinesse.

9

c. 1275.  Lay., 13639. Ich ȝou telle rouþliche spelles of mochele sorinesse.

10

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 372. Þe heuinisse, Þe sorwe, and þe sorinisse, Þat me is on.

11

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, II. xiv. (Skeat), l. 57. Trewly, this is the sorinesse of fayned love.

12

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 465/1. Sorynesse, or hevynesse, tristicia.

13

1548.  R. Hutten, Sum of Diuinitie, G ij b. It is feare and sorines of conscience which perceiveth yt god is angry with syn.

14

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. li. 11. So as the sorynesse may settle itself deep in our harts.

15

1683.  Crowne, City Politiques, II. i. Sorry? what does your sorryness signifie?

16

  † b.  With a and pl. An instance of being sorry.

17

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 105. Þet þe mon on god blissie bitwuxe þa sorinessen þissere sterke worlde.

18

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 71. Alse fele sorinesses swo ich haue on min herte for mine sinnes.

19

c. 1275.  Sinners Beware, 125, in O. E. Misc. In eche sorinesse His saule he may brynge.

20

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxix. 464. For the verie repentance of the best men, is but a sorinesse that they cannot be sorie enough.

21

  2.  The state or quality of being mean, poor or paltry; poorness, meanness.

22

1668.  Wilkins, Real Char., II. i. 32. Indifferency,… Excellency,… Sorriness.

23

1727.  Bailey (vol. II.), Sorryness,… Paltriness, Meanness, Lowness of Value.

24

1891.  T. Hardy, Tess, II. xxxix. 278. Moreover, the figure near at hand suffers on such occasions, because it shows up its sorriness without shade.

25