Main Entry:

woe·be·gone

Pronunciation:

\ˈwō-bi-ˌgȯn also -ˌgän\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English wo begon, from wo, noun + begon, past participle of begon to go about, beset, from Old English begān, from be- + gān to go — more at go

Date:

14th century

1: strongly affected with woe : woeful2 a: exhibiting great woe, sorrow, or misery <a woebegone expression> b: being in a sorry state <woebegone tattered clothes>

— woe·be·gone·ness noun