Sore, a. [Compar.Sorer (�); superl.Sorest.] [OE. sor, sar, AS. sār; akin to D. zeer, OS. & OHG. s�r, G. sehr very, Icel. sārr, Sw. sår, Goth. sair pain. Cf. Sorry.] 1. Tender to the touch; susceptible of pain from pressure; inflamed; painful; — said of the body or its parts; as, a sore hand.
2. Fig.: Sensitive; tender; easily pained, grieved, or vexed; very susceptible of irritation.
Malice and hatred are very fretting and vexatious, and apt to make our minds sore and uneasy. Tillotson.
3. Severe; afflictive; distressing; as, a sore disease; sore evil or calamity. Shak.
4. Criminal; wrong; evil. Shak.
Sore throat(Med.), inflammation of the throat and tonsils; pharyngitis. See Cynanche. — Malignant, UlceratedorPutrid, sore throat. See Angina, and under Putrid.