rue

1 of 3

verb

ˈrü 

rued; ruing

transitive verb

: to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for

intransitive verb

: to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret

rue

2 of 3

noun (1)

: regret, sorrow

with rue my heart is laden

—A. E. Housman

rue

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a European strong-scented perennial woody herb (Ruta graveolens of the family Rutaceae, the rue family) that has bitter leaves used medicinally

Did you know?

If you remember your high school French, or if you've ever strolled down the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, you may have the notion that the English word rue is somehow connected to the French word for "street." In actuality, the French and English words are not related at all. Indeed, the English rue traveled its own road: it comes originally from the Old English word hrēow, meaning "sorrow." Used as both a noun meaning "sorrow, regret," and, more frequently, a verb meaning "to feel sorrow or regret for something," rue is very old, dating to before the 12th century. As for the rue that refers to an aromatic culinary and medicinal herb, that word has another history altogether, coming ultimately from the Greek word rhytē.

Synonyms

Verb

• bemoan
• deplore
• lament
• regret
• repent

Noun (1)

• contriteness
• contrition
• guilt
• penitence
• regret
• remorse
• remorsefulness
• repentance
• self-reproach
• shame

Examples of rue in a Sentence

Verb

He must be ruing his decision now.

I rue the day I agreed to this stupid plan.

Noun (1)

a soul filled with pain and rue

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The hosts would live to rue their inability to convert those opportunities however, appearing powerless to stop Kenan Yildiz as Thuram found the no.10 just inside the box. —Adam Digby, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

While many restaurants will be celebrating, then, others may be ruing their loss. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2024

Noun

The hotel, now three years old, is certainly where all rues lead to during the Paris shows. —Mark Holgate, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024

Weasels were said to roll in the evergreen plant rue to counter wounds and snakebites. —Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rewe, from Old English hrēow; akin to Old High German hriuwa sorrow

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ruta, from Greek rhytē

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rue

• meadow rue
• rue anemone

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Kids Definition

rue

1 of 2 verb

ˈrü 

rued; ruing

: to feel sorrow or regret for

rue

2 of 2 noun

: regret entry 2 sense 1, sorrow

Medical Definition

rue

noun

ˈrü 

: a strong-scented perennial woody herb (Ruta graveolens of the family Rutaceae, the rue family) that has bitter leaves used in medicine