adjective 1.causing sorrow or pity; pitiable; deplorable: a rueful plight.
2.feeling, showing, or expressing sorrow or pity; mournful; doleful: the rueful look on her face.
Origin: 1175–1225; Middle English reowful. See
rue1,
-ful Related forms rue·ful·ly, adverb
rue·ful·ness, noun
half-rue·ful, adjective
half-rue·ful·ly, adverb
un·rue·ful, adjective
un·rue·ful·ly, adverb
un·rue·ful·ness, noun