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regretful (adj.)
1640s, "full of regret," from regret (n.) + -ful. Regretfully (1680s), properly "with regret," often has been incorrectly used in place of regrettably "it is to be regretted that; calling for regret" at least since 1965. "A regrettable use, prob. after HOPEFULLY adv.2" [OED, with a nip of salt]. Or, in a different statement:
regretful means feeling or manifesting regret, not causing it ; the latter sense belongs to regrettable. [Fowler]
updated on June 27, 2021
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