regret

—regretter, n. —regrettingly, adv.

/ri gret"/, v., regretted, regretting, n.

v.t.

1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.): He no sooner spoke than he regretted it.

2. to think of with a sense of loss: to regret one's vanished youth.

n.

3. a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction, etc.

4. a feeling of sorrow or remorse for a fault, act, loss, disappointment, etc.

5. regrets, a polite, usually formal refusal of an invitation: I sent her my regrets.

6. a note expressing regret at one's inability to accept an invitation: I have had four acceptances and one regret.

[1300-50; ME regretten (v.) < MF regreter, OF, equiv. to re- RE- + -greter, perh. < Gmc (cf. GREET²)]

Syn. 1. deplore, lament, bewail, bemoan, mourn, sorrow, grieve. REGRET, PENITENCE, REMORSE imply a sense of sorrow about events in the past, usually wrongs committed or errors made. REGRET is distress of mind, sorrow for what has been done or failed to be done: to have no regrets. PENITENCE implies a sense of sin or misdoing, a feeling of contrition and determination not to sin again: a humble sense of penitence. REMORSE implies pangs, qualms of conscience, a sense of guilt, regret, and repentance for sins committed, wrongs done, or duty not performed: a deep sense of remorse.

Ant. 1. rejoice. 4. joy.

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