Rue | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Rue, v. t.

verbtransitive

(32), v. t. [imp. & p. p. RUED; p. pr. & vb. n. RUING.] [A-S. hrēowan, D. rouwen, O. H. Ger. hriuwan, M. H. Ger. riuwen, N. H. Ger. reuen, L. Ger. rowen, rijen.] 1. To lament; to regret; to grieve for. I wept to see, and rued it from my heart. Chapman. Thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues. Milton. 2. To cause to grieve; to afflict. Dear dame, your sudden overthrow Much rueth me. Spencer. 3. To repent of and withdraw from, as a bargain; to get released from. [Prov. Eng.]

Rue, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To have compassion; to sorrow. [Rare.] “Which stirred men's hearts to rue upon them.” Ridley.

Old year, we'll dearly rue for you. Thompson.

Rue, n.

noun

n. [Fr. rue, Pr., Sp., & Pg. ruda, It. & Lat. ruta, Gr. ῥυτή; A-S. & Dan. råde, L. Ger. rude, rue, D. ruit, O. H. Ger. rûta, N. H. Ger. raute; Gael. rùdh, W. rhuew, rhut, Corn. ryte.] (Bot.) A plant, Ruta (R. graveolens), having a strong, heavy odor, and a bitter taste. It is used in medicine.

They [the exorcists] are to try the devil by holy water, incense, sulphur, and rue, which from thence, as we suppose, came to be called “herb of grace.” Bp. Taylor.