ˈtirfəl, ˈtiəf- adjective
Etymology: tear (I) + -ful
1. : flowing with or accompanied by tears : weeping
tearful entreaties
2. : causing tears
fine sense of the grim and the tearful — T.L.Peacock
• tear·ful·ly -f(ə)lē, -li adverb
• tear·ful·ness noun -es