rue 1
— ruer , n.
/rooh/ , v. , rued, ruing , n.
v.t.
1. to feel sorrow over; repent of; regret bitterly: to rue the loss of opportunities.
2. to wish that (something) had never been done, taken place, etc.: I rue the day he was born.
v.i.
3. to feel sorrow, repentance, or regret.
n.
4. sorrow; repentance; regret.
5. pity or compassion.
[ bef. 900; (v.) ME ruen, rewen, OE hreowan; c. D rouwen, G reuen; (n.) ME rewe, reowe, OE hreow; c. D rouw, G Reue; cf. RUTH ]
rue 2
/rooh/ , n.
any strongly scented plant of the genus Ruta, esp. R. graveolens, having yellow flowers and leaves formerly used in medicine. Cf. rue family .
[ 1350-1400; ME ruta rhyté ]