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Ruefully: meaning, definitions and examples

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ruefully

 

[ ˈruːfəli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

expressing regret

Ruefully means in a way that expresses regret or sorrow, particularly in a humorous or ironic manner. It is often used to convey a sense of wistfulness about a situation that one recognizes as unfortunate but cannot change.

Synonyms

mournfully, regretfully, sorrowfully, wistfully.

Examples of usage

  • He smiled ruefully at his past mistakes.
  • She ruefully admitted that her plan had failed.
  • The comedian talked ruefully about his childhood experiences.
  • I looked ruefully at the empty bowl, regretting how much I'd eaten.
  • He ruefully recalled the advice he had ignored.

Translations

Translations of the word "ruefully" in other languages:

🇵🇹 com pesar

🇮🇳 दुखी होकर

🇩🇪 betrübt

🇮🇩 dengan penyesalan

🇺🇦 зі смутком

🇵🇱 z żalem

🇯🇵 悲しむように

🇫🇷 avec regret

🇪🇸 con pesar

🇹🇷 üzgün bir şekilde

🇰🇷 슬픈 마음으로

🇸🇦 بأسى

🇨🇿 s lítostí

🇸🇰 s ľútosťou

🇨🇳 带着遗憾

🇸🇮 z obžalovanjem

🇮🇸 með sorg

🇰🇿 өкінішпен

🇬🇪 ტკივილით

🇦🇿 peşmanlıqla

🇲🇽 con pesar

Etymology

The word 'ruefully' is derived from the adjective 'rueful', which originates from the verb 'rue'. The verb 'rue' comes from the Old English 'hrēowian', meaning 'to repent' or 'to feel sorrow'. This term underwent various transformations through Middle English, where it appeared as 'reu', and later became 'rue' in Modern English. The suffix '-fully' was added to form 'ruefully', imparting an adverbial form that conveys the manner of expressing regret. The notion of feeling remorse or sorrow permeates the history of the term, reflecting human experiences of regret, nostalgia, and reflection on decisions made. 'Ruefully' has been used in literature to depict characters' introspective moments, often highlighting the irony in their situations. Its utilization in colloquial speech adds an element of humor or light-heartedness to otherwise somber reflections.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,221, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.