Dolor

/ˈdoʊlər/ noun

Definition

A feeling of deep sorrow or grief; mourning or lamentation, especially in formal or literary contexts.

Etymology

From Latin dolor meaning pain or sorrow; used in English since the 13th century, originally in religious or poetic writings about suffering.

Kelly Says

Dolor appears in medieval passion plays and religious texts—it was the specific word for the kind of heartfelt suffering that moved people to tears, different from mere sadness.

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