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a mourning on account of the loss of some joy, advantage, or satisfaction. "A passionate regret at sin." Dr. H. More. What man does not remember with regret the first time he read Robinson Crusoe Macaulay. Never any prince expressed a more lively regret for the loss of a servant. Clarendon. From its peaceful bosom [th…

Full of regret; indulging in regrets; repining. -- Re*gret"ful*ly, adv.

Defending by words or arguments; said or written in defense, or by way of apology; regretfully excusing; as, an apologetic essay. "To speak in a subdued and apologetic tone." Macaulay.

an apology or excuse; to make acknowledgment of some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends; -- with for; as, my correspondent apologized for not answering my letter. To apologize for his insolent language. Froude.

admission to another of a wrong or discourtesy done him, accompanied by an expression of regret.

To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to pity. Then must we those, who groan, beneath the weight Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. Denham. We should commiserate our mutual ignorance. Locke.

To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret. etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; -- commonly used with of. Also, to creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel. O lose of sight, of three I most complain! Milton.

Expression of grief, regret, pain, censure, or resentment; lamentation; murmuring; accusation; fault-finding. I poured out my complaint before him. Ps. cxlii. 2. Grievous complaints of you. Shak.

k to avert by player; to desire the removal of; to seek deliverance from; to express deep regret for; to disapprove of strongly. His purpose was deprecated by all round him, and he was with difficulty induced to adandon it. Sir W. Scott.

To miss; to regret. [Obs.] She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies. Jer. Taylor.

r hopelessness; complete despondency. We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro, Pine with regret, or sicken with despair. Keble. Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were interrupted by fits of remorse and despair. Macaulay.

To repent; to regret; to be sorry for; to cause regret. [Obs.] "Let it forthink you." Tyndale. That me forthinketh, quod this January. Chaucer.

Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov. Eng.] Cowper.

Alack the day; alas; -- an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or surprise.

oud. -- To laugh out of the other corner (or side) of the mouth, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation. [Slang]

A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be regretted. "The more the pity." Shak. What pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country! Addison.

To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do. First she relents With pity; of that pity then repents. Dryden.

Fig.: Bitterness; disappointment; grief; regret. Goat's rue. See under Goat. -- Rue anemone, a pretty springtime flower (Thalictrum anemonides) common in the United States. -- Wall rue, a little fern (Asplenium Ruta-muraria) common on walls in Europe.

diseappointment in the expectation of good; grief at having suffered or occasioned evil; regret; unhappiness; sadness. Milton. How great a sorrow suffereth now Arcite! Chaucer. The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment. Rambler.

Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil; feeling regret; -- now generally used to express light grief or affliction, but formerly often used to express deeper feeling. "I am sorry for my sins." Piers Plowman. Ye were made sorry after a godly manner. 2 Cor. vii. 9. I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the…