— 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.) regreter, OF, equiv. to re- RE- + -greter, perh. 2 ) ]
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.