rue

1
[ roo ]
/ ru /

verb (used with object), rued, ru·ing.

to feel sorrow over; repent of; regret bitterly: to rue the loss of opportunities.
to wish that (something) had never been done, taken place, etc.: I rue the day he was born.

verb (used without object), rued, ru·ing.

to feel sorrow, repentance, or regret.

noun

sorrow; repentance; regret.
pity or compassion.

Origin of rue

1
before 900; (v.) Middle English ruen, rewen, Old English hrēowan; cognate with Dutch rouwen, German reuen; (noun) Middle English rewe, reowe, Old English hrēow; cognate with Dutch rouw, German Reue; cf. ruth

OTHER WORDS FROM rue

ru·er, noun un·rued, adjective

Definition for rue (2 of 3)

rue 2
[ roo ]
/ ru /

noun

any strongly scented plant of the genus Ruta, especially R. graveolens, having yellow flowers and leaves formerly used in medicine.
Compare rue family.

Origin of rue

2
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Latin rūta < Greek rhȳtḗ

Definition for rue (3 of 3)

de la Rue
[ del-uh roo, del-uh roo ]
/ ˈdɛl ə ˌru, ˌdɛl ə ˈru /

noun

Warren,1815–89, English astronomer and inventor.

Example sentences from the Web for rue

British Dictionary definitions for rue (1 of 2)

rue 1
/ (ruː) /

verb rues, ruing or rued

to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret for (one's own wrongdoing, past events with unpleasant consequences, etc)

noun

archaic sorrow, pity, or regret

Derived forms of rue

ruer, noun

Word Origin for rue

Old English hrēowan; related to Old Saxon hreuwan, Old High German hriuwan

British Dictionary definitions for rue (2 of 2)

rue 2
/ (ruː) /

noun

any rutaceous plant of the genus Ruta, esp R. graveolens, an aromatic Eurasian shrub with small yellow flowers and evergreen leaves which yield an acrid volatile oil, formerly used medicinally as a narcotic and stimulant Archaic name: herb of grace Compare goat's-rue, meadow rue, wall rue

Word Origin for rue

C14: from Old French, from Latin rūta, from Greek rhutē