Wō'ful or Wōe'ful, a.

a. 1. Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity; afflicted; unhappy; sad. How many woeful widows left to bow To sad disgrace! Daniel. 2. Bringing calamity, distress, or affliction; as, a woeful event; woeful want. O woeful day! O day of woe. Philips. 3. Wretched; paltry; miserable. What woeful stuff this madrigal would be! Pope.