Apologetic Meaning

"Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic." — 1890 February, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “A Break in the Chain”, in The Sign of Four (Standard Library), London: Spencer Blackett […], →OCLC, pages 174–175:

"Aberdeen Joint is a fine station. Its approach is a real approach, not an apologetic side-street; its granite building has a dignity in keeping with the famous city skyline it faces, [...]." — 1941 January, C. Hamilton Ellis, “The Scottish Station”, in Railway Magazine, page 3:

"Scott, somewhat stunned and now worried that everybody might have opened fire at the U.S. destroyers (he presumably missed Laffey and Farenholt merrily blazing away with their own guns into the darkness), ordered all firing to cease after a couple of minutes. Helena, along with Boise, was already several hundred shells lighter, and both Boise and San Francisco herself actually kept firing, as their captains were utterly sure about their targets; San Franciscos captain was very apologetic' as he overruled Admiral Scott." — 2020 December 9, Drachinifel, 20:18 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - Cape Esperance (IJN 1 : 2 USN), archived from the original on 04 Dec 2022:

"At Paisley, a station staff member politely but firmly asks why RAIL is taking so many photographs. The reply - that it's a magnificent station worthy of pictures - changes his demeanour and he's then very apologetic and says he "has to ask"." — 2025 March 5, “Ayr miles with a 'Spirit of Scotland'”, in RAIL, number 1030, page 43: