English Explanatory Dictionary

rueful

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow, especially in a wry or humorous way.
  2. Inspiring pity or compassion.
  3. Bad; woeful; deplorable.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹuːfl̩/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-rueful.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-rueful.wav

Word forms

rueful more rueful most rueful ruefull

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *hrewwaną Proto-West Germanic *hreuwan Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Germanic *-ō Proto-West Germanic *-u Proto-West Germanic *hreuwu Old English hrēow Middle English rewe Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós Proto-Germanic *fullaz Proto-Germanic *-fullaz Old English -ful Middle English -ful Middle English reuful English rueful From Middle English ruful, rewful. By surface analysis, rue + -ful.

Synonyms

deplorable pitiful sorry atrabiliary atrabilious depressing distressing grievous heartbreaking heartrending miserable lamentable lachrymable mournful regrettable rueful sad saddening sorrowful tragic unhappy upsetting woebegone woeful regretful repining pathetic pitiable pitisome compassionate pathetisad piteous poor ruthful snivelly sorry-ass unfavorable negative abysmal atrocious awful bad chronic coarse corny crap crapalicious crappy crummy deityforsaken dire disagreeable dismal dogshit dreadful fifth-rate foul fourth-rate godawful hellish

Related words

rue

Derived words

ruefully ruefulness unrueful
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