regret English · revision 5661

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=fro regreter}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /rɪˈɡret/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English regretten, [[bor|fro|regreter|t=to long after, bewail, lament the dead]] (variant regrater; modern French regretter),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|fro|re-]], an intensive prefix, and -greter, possibly from a Germanic source such as Frankish,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) related to Old English grǣtan and Old Norse gráta “to weep” (see [[greet]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) The Century Dictionary, as cited by Etymonline, notes that it is not found in the other Romance languages and has been explained in several ways.^(Etymonline) The noun is from French regret, from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To remember something lost with distress or longing; to mourn: about 1380 in Barnhart, the 14th century in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The weaker sense, to feel sorry about an event or action, is from 1553.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The noun first meant a complaint or lament (1533), now obsolete;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) sorrow over an outside circumstance is from 1590, and sorrow for something one has done or failed to do from about 1641.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Regrets'', a polite message declining an invitation, is attested by 1851.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – to mourn something lost.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1533 – the noun, a lament.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1553 – to feel sorry about.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590 – sorrow at a circumstance.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1641 – sorrow for something done.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – ''regrets'', declining an invitation.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To feel sorry or disappointed about something one has done or that has happened.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To remember with a sense of loss; to [[mourn]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(formal)'' Used to apologize politely: ''we regret to inform you''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A feeling of sorrow or [[disappointment]], especially over something done or not done.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(regrets)'' A polite refusal of an [[invitation]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[regretter]]

+ * [[regretful]]

+ * [[regretfulness]]

+ * [[regrettingly]]

+ * [[regrettable]]

+ * [[unregretted]]

+ * [[unregretting]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[greet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}