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Definition of Rueful
1. Adjective. Feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses.
Similar to: Penitent, Repentant
Derivative terms: Contriteness, Ruefulness, Ruthfulness
Definition of Rueful
1. a. Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful.
Definition of Rueful
1. Adjective. Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow. ¹
2. Adjective. Inspiring pity or compassion. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Rueful
1. feeling sorrow or remorse [adj] : RUEFULLY [adv]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Rueful
Literary usage of Rueful
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Rhyming Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Whole Language by John Walker, John Longmuir (1902)
"... blueness, rueful, &c., and at the same time would preclude the possible mistake
which might arise if the simples blue and rue were not understood to be ..."
2. Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms by Frederic Sturges Allen (1920)
"lambskin n. skin (contextual); spec. budge. lamentable, a. regrettable, sorrowful,
deplorable, sad, ruthful (archaic), rueful (often spec. ..."
3. The Port Folio by Joseph Dennie, Asbury Dickins (1806)
"Thinking himself the wicked instrument Of those affecting shrieks and rueful
ci-ies; Which she observing, bade him wipe his eyes; " Your grief on this ..."
4. Publications of the Navy Records Society by Navy Records Society (Great Britain) (1908)
"... Of glory we've sav'd our whole stock; Twere pity, indeed, to lose it, or bleed,
For a toothless old man and a rock. A rueful STORY, ADMIRAL B ..."
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