Ruthful

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɹuːθ.fÊŠl/

Origin

From Middle English reuthful, reowthful, equivalent to ruth + -ful.

Full definition of ruthful

Adjective

1. Full of sorrow; sorrowful; woeful; rueful.
2. Causing pity; piteous.
• c.1588-1593, William Shakespeare, , Act 5, Scene 1,An if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius,
  'Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak;
  For I must talk of murders, rapes, and massacres,
  Acts of black night, abominable deeds,
  Complots of mischief, treason, villainies,
  Ruthful to hear, yet piteously perform'd:
• 1808, Walter Scott, , Canto Fourth,‘When last this ruthful month was come,
  And in Linlithgow’s holy dome
  The King, as wont, was praying;
3. Full of ruth or pity; merciful; compassionate.
• 1898, Richard Francis Burton (translator), , Volume 7,Then he bestowed robes of honour on the nurses wet and dry and said to them, "Be ye ruthful over them and rear them after the goodliest fashion."

Usage notes

(causing pity) Unlike the other senses, which describe the person acting or the motivation behind an act, this sense is used to describe the effect of an action or circumstance. Thus, it is easily confused with the complementary term ruthless: a ruthless person (one lacking pity) may perform acts or bring about circumstances which are ruthful (cause or induce feelings of pity).

Synonyms

• (full of ruth) compassionate, merciful

Antonyms

• (full of ruth) ruthless

Derived terms

• ruthfully
• ruthfulness

Related terms

• ruth

Anagrams

• hurtful