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Definition of rueful adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rueful

adjective
 
/ˈruːfl/
 
/ˈruːfl/
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  1. feeling or showing that you are sad or sorry
    • a rueful smile
    Topics Feelingsc2
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryRueful is used with these nouns:
    • grin
    • laugh
    • smile
    • …
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘pitiable’): from the noun rue ‘regret’ + -ful.
See rueful in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: rueful

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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