rueful
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English
Alternative forms
- ruefull (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English ruful, rewful; equivalent to rue + -ful.
Pronunciation
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Adjective
rueful (comparative more rueful, superlative most rueful)
- Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow, especially in a wry or humorous way.
- 1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy:
- Merely, he received it with the rueful indulgence that he would show towards Tom when he came through with one of his solutions for ending world poverty or the arms race.
- Inspiring pity or compassion.
- Bad; woeful; deplorable.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow
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inspiring pity or compassion
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