The word 'regret' means to feel sad or disappointed about something that has happened or something you did or did not do. It often involves wishing that a different choice had been made, leading to different outcomes. Regret can be a temporary feeling or a more lasting one, and it is generally connected to reflecting on past actions or decisions.
The word 'regret' originates from the Middle English word 'regreten', which means "to weep" or "to grieve over." It further stems from the Old French word 'regretter', based on the Latin word 'recrectare', which means “to cry out again” or “to cry back”.