rue
rue Lexical Profile
rue Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To feel sorrow, remorse, or regret for (an action, decision, or something allowed to happen).
"The corrupt politician will surely rue the day he decided to betray his most loyal allies."
• noun
An evergreen shrub of the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, characterized by its strongly scented, bitter leaves that were historically cultivated for medicinal and culinary uses.
"The herbalist carefully measured the dried leaves of rue to prepare a traditional folk remedy."
Sorrow, regret, or pity.
"With a heart full of rue, the old king looked back upon the crumbling walls of his childhood kingdom."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently appears in the dramatic idiomatic expression 'rue the day.' In spoken English, it is a homophone for 'roux' (a culinary thickening agent of fat and flour).
• Rhymes for rue
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derives from two distinct etymological sources. The word meaning 'regret' stems from Old English 'hrēowan' (to make sorry), of Germanic origin. The plant name comes from Old French 'rue', derived from Latin 'ruta' and Greek 'rhutē'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.