Rue /(rṳ)/

Rue

n.
  1. A perennial suffrutescent plant (Ruta graveolens), having a strong, heavy odor and a bitter taste; herb of grace. It is used in medicine. (Bot.)
    Then purged with euphrasy and rue The visual nerve, for he had much to see.
    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.
  2. Fig.: Bitterness; disappointment; grief; regret.

Phrases & Compounds
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

  1. To lament; to regret extremely; to grieve for or over.
    I wept to see, and rued it from my heart.
    — Chapmen.
    Thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
  2. To cause to grieve; to afflict. [Obs.]
  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.
    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.
    Old year, we'll dearly rue for you.

Rue

n.
  1. Sorrow; repetance. [Obs.]