Rue (?), n. [F. rue, L. ruta, akin to Gr. ; cf. AS. rde.]
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.
© Webster 1913.
Rue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ruing.] [OE. rewen, reouwen, to grive, make sorry, AS. hreowan; akin to OS. hrewan, D. rouwen, OHG. hriuwan, G. reun, Icel. hruggr grieved, hrug&edh; 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.]
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Rue, n. [AS. hreow. See Rue, v. t.]
Sorrow; repetance.
[Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.