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REFERENCE

regret

v. · n.
US //ɹəˈɡɹɛt// UK //ɹɪɡɹˈɛt// re·gret
  1. 1 to feel sorry about an action (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to feel sad or sorry about something you did, or a situation that happened.

    to feel sorrow or remorse regarding a past action, event, or omission. Transitive, often taking a gerund or a 'that' clause.

    Example

    He deeply regretted shouting at his friend during the argument yesterday.

    Example

    Many retirees admit they regret not travelling more extensively while they still possessed the physical stamina to do so.
    Pitfall
    I regret to tell you that I lied.
    I regret telling you that I lied.

    Use 'regret' + -ing to talk about the past. Use 'regret to' + verb to give bad news in the present.

  2. 2 to formally give bad news (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    a polite way to say you are sorry to tell someone something disappointing.

    used in formal correspondence to introduce disappointing information or a refusal. Typically followed by a to-infinitive.

    Example

    We regret to inform you that your application was not successful.

    Example

    The airline regrets to announce that the flight to Paris has been cancelled due to technical difficulties with the aircraft.
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  1. 3 the feeling of sadness (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the sad feeling you have when you wish you had done something differently.

    the emotional state of remorse or dissatisfaction directed toward a past event. Both countable and uncountable.

    Example

    She left the party with a sense of regret after her awkward conversation.

    Example

    The protagonist's life was defined by a profound regret over a single decision made in his youth.
  2. 4 declining an invitation (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a formal message saying that you cannot go to an event.

    a formal notification that one is unable to accept an invitation. Often used in the plural form 'regrets'.

    Example

    Please send your regrets by Friday if you cannot attend the wedding.

    Example

    The CEO sent her regrets, explaining that a prior board commitment prevented her from attending the gala.
Origin

From Middle English regretten, regreten, from Old French regreter, regrater (“to lament”), from re- (intensive prefix) + greter, grater (“to weep”), from Frankish grātan (“to weep, mourn, lament”), from Proto-Germanic grētaną (“to weep”), from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁d- (“to sound”); and Frankish greutan (“to cry, weep”), from Proto-Germanic greutaną (“to weep, cry”), from Proto-Indo-European gʰrewd- (“to weep, be sad”), equivalent to re- + greet. Cognate with Old High German grāzan (“to cry”), Old English grǣtan (“to weep, greet”), Old English grēotan (“to weep, lament”), Old Norse gráta (“to weep, groan”), Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (grētan, “to weep”). More at greet.

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