griefful, a.
(ˈgriːffʊl)
Forms: 4 greful, 5–7 greefull, 6–8 grieffull, (6 grefull, grefful, grieful(l, gre(e)fe-ful, griefeful(l, grievefull), 6, 9 griefful.
[f. grief n. + -ful.]
Painful, sorrowful; † grievous.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 13184 (Gött.) Bot þis dede was seld ful dere, þe mening ȝeit lastis bi ȝere, wid a greful [Cott. greithful] uengance. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon ix. 251 The wounde of Rycharde was soo greefull to see that it was pyte to beholde. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 20 It is grefull to me to leue your companye. 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc i. i. (Shaks. Soc.) 97 And nowe the daie renewes my griefull plainte. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. iii, The most greefull, despairing, wretched [etc.]. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Hist. Jas. III, Wks. (1711) 42 To deliver this grief-full body to the rest of a desired grave. 1742 Collins Ode to Fear 27 The grief-full Muse address'd her infant tongue. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. vi. 704 The same great, grave, griefful air. 1882 Daily News 21 Apr. 5/7 The stern reality of a griefful parting. |
Hence ˈgrieffully adv.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 973 (Dublin MS.) And grettes for hym als grefully [Ashm. MS. greuously] as he hym gettyn hed. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 153 He is in dede very sory, but yet taketh the matter lesse greifefully, forasmuche as the thinge hath fortuned throughe another mans faulte, and not his. |