Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rue?

\Rue\, n. [F. rue, L. ruta, akin to Gr. ?; cf. AS. r?de.] 1. (Bot.) A perennial suffrutescent plant ({Ruta graveolens}), having a strong, heavy odor and a bitter taste; herb of grace. It is used in medicine. Then purged with euphrasy and rue The visual nerve, for he had much to see. --Milton. They [the exorcists] are to try the devil by holy water, incense, sulphur, rue, which from thence, as we suppose, came to be called herb of grace. --Jer. Taylor. 2. Fig.: Bitterness; disappointment; grief; regret. {Goat's rue}. See under {Goat}. {Rue anemone}, a pretty springtime flower ({Thalictrum anemonides}) common in the United States. {Wall rue}, a little fern ({Asplenium Ruta-muraria}) common on walls in Europe.
\Rue\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rued}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ruing}.] [OE. rewen, reouwen, to grive, make sorry, AS. hre['o]wan; akin to OS. hrewan, D. rouwen, OHG. hriuwan, G. reun, Icel. hruggr grieved, hrug[eth] sorrow. [root] 18. Cf. {Ruth}.] 1. To lament; to regret extremely; to grieve for or over. --Chaucer. I wept to see, and rued it from my heart. --Chapmen. Thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues. --Milton. 2. To cause to grieve; to afflict. [Obs.] ``God wot, it rueth me.'' --Chaucer. 3. To repent of, and withdraw from, as a bargain; to get released from. [Prov. Eng.]
\Rue\, v. i. 1. To have compassion. [Obs.] God so wisly [i. e., truly] on my soul rue. --Chaucer. Which stirred men's hearts to rue upon them. --Ridley. 2. To feel sorrow and regret; to repent. Work by counsel and thou shalt not rue. --Chaucer. Old year, we'll dearly rue for you. --Tennyson.
\Rue\, n. [AS. hre['o]w. See {Rue}, v. t.] Sorrow; repetance. [Obs.] --Shak.