rue

¹ American  

[roo] / ru /

verb (used with object)

rued, ruing

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.

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verb (used without object)

rued, ruing

1. to feel sorrow, repentance, or regret.

noun

1. sorrow; repentance; regret.

2. pity or compassion.

rue ² American  

[roo] / ru /

noun

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

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rue ¹ British  

/ ruː /

verb

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

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noun

1. archaic sorrow, pity, or regret

rue ² British  

/ ruː /

noun

1. Archaic name: herb of grace.  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 Compare goat's-rue meadow rue wall rue

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Other Word Forms

• ruer noun
• unrued adjective

Etymology

Origin of rue¹

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; ruth

Origin of rue²

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

Example Sentences

Many MSs rue the fact that, unlike Scotland or the Crown Dependencies, the Welsh Assembly does not have the power to introduce its own assisted dying law.

From BBC

Alexander-Arnold curled a free-kick wide as the clock ticked down and it looked like Madrid were left ruing two points dropped, when the third was taken away from them too.

From Barron's

The visitors are still in the running for the championship but may rue not picking up a late bonus point in last week's win over Italy.

From BBC

The fifth-placed Blues' collapse cost them the chance to move above Manchester United into fourth place, leaving Rosenior to rue their careless defending.

From Barron's

Farke's side didn't have to rue that miss for long as they took the lead in the 26th minute.

From Barron's