Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: wa

woe

 noun
     
woe
1

woes

[plural] formal the problems and troubles affecting someone:
the country's economic woes
2 [uncountable] literary great sadness
3

woe is me

spoken humorous used to say that you are extremely unhappy or in a difficult situation
4

woe betide somebody

British English used to warn someone that there will be trouble if they do something - especially used humorously:
Woe betide anyone who smokes in our house!
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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