'sorrowfully' originates from the Old English word 'sorhfullice', where 'sorh' meant 'grief' and '-fullice' was an adverbial suffix.

'sorhfullice' transformed into the Middle English word 'sorwefully', and eventually became the modern English word 'sorrowfully'.

Initially, it meant 'full of grief', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'in a manner full of sorrow'.