DOLEFUL Meaning of DOLEFUL in English [dole.ful] adj (13c) 1: causing grief or affliction "a ~ loss" 2: full of grief: cheerless "a ~ face" 3: expressing grief: sad "a ~ melody" -- dole.ful.ly adv -- dole.ful.ness n Merriam-Webster English vocab. Английский словарь Merriam Webster. 2012