regret
vb , -grets, -gretting, -gretted tr
1 may take a clause as object or an infinitiv to feel sorry, repentant, or upset about
2 to bemoan or grieve the death or loss of
n
3 a sense of repentance, guilt, or sorrow, as over some wrong done or an unfulfilled ambition
4 a sense of loss or grief
5 pl a polite expression of sadness, esp. in a formal refusal of an invitation
(C14: from Old French regrete, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse grata to weep)
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regretful adj
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regretfully adv
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regretfulness n
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regrettable adj
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regrettably adv
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regretter n
Regretful and regretfully are sometimes wrongly used where regrettable and regrettably are meant: he gave a regretful smile; he smiled regretfully; this is a regrettable (not regretful) mistake; regrettably (not regretfully), I shall be unable to attend