English Language & Usage Asked on March 17, 2021
Take this situation;
Everyone was given ice cream at the birthday party, except for Todd. After Todd got home, he felt very disheartened that he never got the
chance to taste the ice-cream there. He really desired it and now it
left a hole in his heart.
Think of it as feeling you get after a “missed opportunity” or “missed chance”. You can never have it again in your life. Now the mark this situation would give a person, is there a word for it?
I’m guessing “yearning”, “longing” and “hankering” would win here (perhaps I’m actually looking for them?) Or is there a more specific word regarding that situation or feeling?
Focusing on what one is left with after the initial disappointment, your description is almost the exact definition of regret:
Regret (n): a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done (especially a loss or missed opportunity).
Although, this may not meet your needs, since regret is often used in relation to one's own actions and people forget that one can regret something that has happened to oneself. I also might not pack the punch you are looking for.
The verb, to rue packs a punch (with some added animosity):
Rue (v): To bitterly regret.
Technically, it can be a noun, but its use, in this form, is archaic.
Oh wait, are you looking for pining?
Pine (v): Suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart. Miss and long for the return of.
I suppose you could also use ache, which would highlight the internal pain/anguish of the loss.
Correct answer by TheMadDeveloper on March 17, 2021
Such a disappointment would deserve a word like bringdown, bummer or bitter pill (to swallow).
a disappointment or disillusionment; letdown:
It was quite a bringdown to find myself running last in the mayoral race.
A disappointing or unpleasant situation or experience:
the team’s relegation is a real bummer
An unpleasant or painful necessity (to accept).
‘It is a bitter pill to swallow but it is necessary to cut back and balance the books,’ he said.
References:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bringdown
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bummer
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/a-bitter-pill-to-swallow
Answered by Bookeater on March 17, 2021
MEAGER 2a: lacking desirable qualities (such as richness or strength) 2.b: deficient in quality or quantity
EXIGUOUS
BEREFT 2. utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected
Answered by Nicolle Campbell on March 17, 2021
You couldn't quite say it was a "missed opportunity" or a "missed chance". That's because---as you have stated initially---
"Everyone except Tom was given the ice cream." Tom, in other words, couldn't do much about it.
There have already been potential answers to this one. I, for my part, am adding this favourite verb of mine for such situations-- "jones".
Tom was jonesing for the ice cream.
Answered by user392935 on March 17, 2021
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