RUE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English rewe, from Old English hrēow; akin to Old High German hriuwa sorrow Date: before 12th century regret , sorrow , II. verb (~d; ruing) Date: 12th century transitive verb to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for, intransitive verb to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret, III. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ruta, from Greek rhytē Date: 13th century a European strong-scented perennial woody herb ( Ruta graveolens of the family Rutaceae, the ~ family) that has bitter leaves used medicinally