Ruefully

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rueful \Rue"ful\ (r[udd]"f[.u]l), a.
     1. Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Expressing sorrow. "Rueful faces." --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]


  
              Two rueful figures, with long black cloaks. --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Rue"ful*ly}, adv. -- {Rue"ful*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ruefully
       adv : in a rueful manner; "`I made a big mistake,' he said
             ruefully" [syn: {contritely}, {remorsefully}]