rue

views updated May 21 2018

rue1 / roō/ • v. (rues, rued, ru·ing or rue·ing) [tr.] bitterly regret (something one has done or allowed to happen): Ferguson will rue the day he turned down that offer she might live to rue this impetuous decision.• n. archaic repentance; regret: with rue my heart is laden. ∎  compassion; pity: tears of pitying rue.rue2 • n. a perennial evergreen shrub (Ruta graveolens, family Rutaceae) with bitter strong-scented lobed leaves that are used in herbal medicine. ∎  used in names of other plants that resemble rue, esp. in leaf shape, e.g., goat's-rue.

rue

views updated May 18 2018

rue a symbol of grief and repentance. The name of this plant, with its bitter strong-scented lobed leaves used in herbal medicine, has often been used with punning allusion to rue meaning ‘sorrow, regret’. This may have given rise to the alternative name herb of grace.

rue

views updated Jun 08 2018

rue2 affect with contrition or sorrow OE.; affect with pity XII; repent of. OE. str. vb. hrēowan = OS. hreuwan (Du. rouwen), OHG. (h)riuwan (G. reuen); no certain cogns. are known.

rue

views updated May 23 2018

rue1 (arch. exc. as surviving in rueful XIII) sorrow, regret OE.; compassion XIII. OE. hrēow = MLG., MDu. rouwe (Du. rouw), OHG. (h)riuwa (G. reue), rel. to next.

rue

views updated Jun 08 2018

rue3 shrub of the genus Ruta. XIV. — (O)F.:- L. rūta — Gr. rhūtḗ.