Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SORE, a. [Sax. sar, pain, also grievous, painful; D. zeer; G. sehr; also Sax. swær, swar, or swer, heavy, grievous; Dan. svær; G. schwer; D. swaar. This seems to be radically the same word as the former. See Sorrow.]

1. Tender and susceptible of pain from pressure; as, a boil, ulcer or abscess is very sore; a wounded place is sore; inflammation renders a part sore.
2. Tender, as the mind; easily pained, grieved or vexed; very susceptible of irritation from any thing that crosses the inclination. Malice and hatred are very fretting, and apt to make our minds sore and uneasy. – Tillotson.
3. Affected with inflammation; as, sore eyes.
4. Violent with pain; severe; afflictive; distressing; as, a sore disease; sore evil or calamity; a sore night. Com. Prayer. – Shak.
5. Severe; violent; as, a sore conflict.
6. Criminal; evil. [Obs.] – Shak.