Английский Этимологический словарь - sorry

- O.E. sarig "distressed, full of sorrow," from W.Gmc. *sairig-, from *sairaz "pain" (physical and mental). Related to sar (see sore). Meaning "wretched, worthless, poor" first recorded c.1250. Spelling shift from -a- to -o- by influence of sorrow. Apologetic sense is from 1914; as another way to say "excuse me" it is first attested 1972, from phrase sorry about that, popularized 1960s by TV show "Get Smart."