rueful
adjective /ˈruːfl/
/ˈruːfl/
- feeling or showing that you are sad or sorry
- a rueful smile
Oxford Collocations DictionaryRueful is used with these nouns:- grin
- laugh
- smile
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘pitiable’): from the noun rue ‘regret’ + -ful.