Sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment

• Regretful sadness

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rueful \Rue"ful\, a. Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful. Expressing sorrow. ``Rueful faces.'' --Dryden. Two rueful figures, with long black cloaks. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] -- Rue"ful*ly , adv. -- Rue"ful*ness , n.

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment; "he drank to drown his sorrows"; "he wrote a note expressing his regret"; "to his rue, the error cost him the game" [syn: sorrow , regret , rue ]

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. The property of being rueful.