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увы. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
увы, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
увы in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
увы you have here. The definition of the word
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Russian
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *uvy, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wai. Cognate with English woe, Latin vae, Lithuanian vaĩ, Sanskrit उवे (uvé), Hittite (uwai), Persian وای (vây).
Pronunciation
Interjection
увы́ • (uvý)
- alas!
1870, Михаил Салтыков-Щедрин, “Органчик”, in История одного города; English translation from I. P. Foote, transl., The History of a Town, Oxford: Willem A. Meeuws, 1980:Увы! последующие события не только оправдали общественное мнение обывателей, но даже превзошли самые смелые их опасения.- Uvy! posledujuščije sobytija ne tolʹko opravdali obščestvennoje mnenije obyvatelej, no daže prevzošli samyje smelyje ix opasenija.
- Alas, succeeding events not only confirmed the inhabitants in their views, but even surpassed their worst apprehensions.