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Rueful

//ˈɹuːfl̩// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow, especially in a wry or humorous way.

    "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."

  2. 2
    Inspiring pity or compassion.
  3. 3
    Bad; woeful; deplorable.
Adjective
  1. 1
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses wordnet

Etymology

From Middle English ruful, rewful. By surface analysis, rue + -ful.

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