The phrase ‘sorrowful news‘ is not a single word but rather a combination of two words. However, as a phrase reflecting a specific sentiment, its etymology can be understood in context. The term ‘sorrowful‘ derives from the Middle English ‘sorrowful,‘ which comes from the Old English ‘sorgful,‘ rooted in ‘sorg,‘ meaning sorrow or grief. ‘News‘ comes from the late Middle English ‘newes,‘ which is the plural of ‘new,‘ derived from the Latin ‘nova,‘ meaning new thing or report.

Together, ‘sorrowful news‘ conveys the idea of new information that brings sadness or distress, rooted in the emotional connotation of sorrow and the communicative nature of news.