ruthful C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings US /ˈruθfəl/ UK /ˈruːθfʊl/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj an archaic word meaning full of sorrow or compassion; pitiful She cast a ruthful glance at the orphaned child. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · an archaic word meaning... compassionatepiteousmercifulsorrowfulpitifultenderrueful ↔ Opposites ruthlessmercilesspitiless Word family Derived forms ruthfullyruthfulness Related forms ruthrueruthless Etymology AI details From Middle English ruthful, from ruthe ('pity') + -ful, ultimately from Old English hrēow ('sorrow, regret'). reuthe Middle English hrēow Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Emotions & Feelings Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # ruthful **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈruθfəl/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈruːθfʊl/ ## Meanings 1. an archaic word meaning full of sorrow or compassion; pitiful ## Examples - She cast a ruthful glance at the orphaned child. ## Synonyms - compassionate - piteous - merciful - sorrowful - pitiful - tender - rueful ## Antonyms - ruthless - merciless - pitiless ## Derived Forms - ruthfully - ruthfulness ## Related Forms - ruth - rue - ruthless ## Roots and Affixes - Root: reuthe - Root: hrēow ## Etymology From Middle English ruthful, from ruthe ('pity') + -ful, ultimately from Old English hrēow ('sorrow, regret'). ## AI Etymology Ruthful comes from Middle English ruthful, from ruthe ('pity') + -ful, ultimately from Old English hrēow ('sorrow, regret'). The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it denotes "an archaic word meaning full of sorrow or compassion; pitiful", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Middle English reuthe and Old English hrēow. Derivative forms include ruthfully, ruthfulness; related words include ruth, rue, ruthless. ## Topics - Emotions & Feelings - Word Formation & Derivatives - Register & Style markdown