| 单词 | ruefully |
| 释义 | ruefully (once / 2254 pages) adv When you do something in a way that expresses regret, you’re doing it ruefully. If someone asks you about your Saturday night and you smile ruefully in response . . . well . . . you probably made some poor choices. The origin of the word ruefully is a Germanic word that means “repentance.” But over time the word has adopted a slightly humorous tone, so you can go ahead and shake your head ruefully at your friend who has just put his boot on the wrong foot — you feel a little bit sorry for him at the moment. You might grin ruefully when asked about how many pairs of shoes you bought on your trip. WORD FAMILYrueful: ruefulest, ruefully, ruefulness+/rue: rued, rueful, rueing, rues, ruing/ruefulness: ruefulnesses USAGE EXAMPLESHens recalls ruefully that she did not try to shield her sons from their brutal father. The New Yorker(Jan 01, 2017) When one attendee pointed this out, another ruefully shook her head and mumbled, “That’s how it always goes.” Wall Street Journal(Nov 25, 2016) “And for a while,’’ he added, ruefully, “I did.’ Washington Post(Nov 21, 2016) adv in a rueful manner `I made a big mistake,' he said ruefully Syn contritely, remorsefully |
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