I. ˈrü verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English ruen, rewen, from Old English hrēowan; akin to Old High German hriuwan to grieve, regret, Old Norse hryggr sorrowful and perhaps to Greek krouein to strike, push & Lithuanian krušti to stamp, smash
transitive verb
1.
a. : to repent of (wrongdoing) : feel penitence or remorse for
b. : to feel regret for (as an act or a choice) : wish undone or done differently
served us unconsciously and rued the results — A.B.Guthrie
I rue that day — Emmett Gowen
2. obsolete
a. : to affect with pity or compassion
b. : to regard with pity or compassion
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to be repentant : feel contrition
2.
a. : to regret an act or choice
b. Scotland : to be dissatisfied with a bargain : try to go back on an agreement — often used with of
3. obsolete : to feel sorrow, regret, or reluctance
4. archaic : to have compassion : feel pity : show mercy — often used with on or upon
•
- rue back
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English rewe, from Old English hrēow; akin to Middle Dutch rouwe sorrow, Old High German hriuwa sorrow, hriuwan to grieve
1.
a. : regret , sorrow
although she mocked his rue , he knew she shared it — Kathryn Grondahl
b. : repentance
2. : compassion , pity
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English rue, ruwe, rewe, from Middle French rue, from Latin ruta, from Greek rhvtē
: a European strong-scented perennial woody herb ( Ruta graveolens ) having yellow flowers and decompound leaves with a bitter taste — called also herb of grace