Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The quality or state of being rueful.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The property of being
rueful .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ruefulness.
Examples
-
The way Ward balances ruefulness and hope is singularly impressive.
-
Brought to his knees, with the evidence of Wolsey's duplicitous intentions scattered in letters on the floor, Cochrane provides, in the vein of Richard II, a moving account of a titan cut down to admirably human ruefulness.
Theater review: Folger Theatre's 'Henry VIII' Peter Marks 2010
-
The way Ward balances ruefulness and hope is singularly impressive.
-
She tried to keep the ruefulness out of her voice.
365 tomorrows » 2010 » March : A New Free Flash Fiction SciFi Story Every Day 2010
-
Stritch is sassy and skillful, bringing a fierce ruefulness to her performance, previously played by Angela Lansbury.
Fern Siegel: Stage Door: A Little Night Music Fern Siegel 2010
-
They had not made love last night—and Alice had blamed herself with a particular ruefulness.
Here Comes Another Lesson Stephen O’Connor 2010
-
Stritch is sassy and skillful, bringing a fierce ruefulness to her performance, previously played by Angela Lansbury.
-
Of ruefulness that winning was borne of what was the worst tragedy in my life.
Archive 2010-01-01 Rus Bowden 2010
-
"Portuondo's contralto still registers as a formidably potent and emotionally limber instrument, telegraphing ruefulness or parental tenderness or swooning romantic fatalism."
-
"Portuondo's contralto still registers as a formidably potent and emotionally limber instrument, telegraphing ruefulness or parental tenderness or swooning romantic fatalism."
100000232338334 commented on the word ruefulness
She looked at us with charming ruefulness. -Charlaine Harris, Living Dead in Dallas
December 11, 2010