Word Direct Answers

What does "rue" mean?

Rue: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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. 3.To cause to grieve; to afflict. [Obs.] "God wot, it rueth me." Chaucer.
  3. 4.To repent of, and withdraw from, as a bargain; to get released from. [Prov. Eng.]
  4. 5.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.
  5. 6.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.
  6. 7.Sorrow; repetance. [Obs.] Shak.

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