"I'm sorry to say...” (4)

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

alas

'i'm sorry to say' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for alas that I've seen before include "Expression of grief or misfortune" , "Proper, respectable" , "Oh dear!" , "Sad expression" , "More's the pity" .)

I've seen this clue in The Wall Street Journal and the Universal.

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