resentful

The word 'resentful' is built upon the verb 'resent', which entered English in the late 16th century from French ressentir, itself from Latin re- (expressing intensive force) and sentire (to feel). The core concept is of feeling something strongly again, or re-feeling a perceived wrong. The suffix '-ful' (from Old English) was later added to form the adjective, characterizing someone as being "full of" this intense feeling of aggrievement. Thus, the modern meaning logically evolves from the literal idea of being "full of feeling again"—specifically, the persistent, bitter feeling associated with a past injury or insult.