Английский Этимологический словарь - regret (v.)

- "to remember with distress or longing," mid-15c., from M.E. regrete "lament, feel sorrow," c.1380, from O.Fr. regreter "long after, bewail, lament someone's death)," from re-, intensive prefix + -greter, possibly from Frankish (cf. O.E. grжtan "to weep;" O.N. grata "to weep, groan"), from P.Gmc. *gretan "weep." Replaced O.E. ofюyncan, from of- "off, away," here denoting opposition + юyncan "seem, seem fit" (as in methinks). The noun is first recorded 1533. Regretfully incorrectly in place of regrettably is attested from 1976.