Definition

1. Noun:

   • A feeling of sorrow, regret, or repentance: "Rue" refers to a state of deep sadness or remorse for something one has done or failed to do.
   • A perennial herb: "Rue" is also the name of a strong-smelling, bitter-tasting European plant with grey-green leaves, known botanically as Ruta graveolens.

2. Verb:

   • To feel remorse or regret for: To "rue" an action or decision means to bitterly regret it and feel sorrowful about it.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Emotion):

  • He felt a deep rue for his harsh words.
  • She looked back on her decision with nothing but rue.

• Noun (Plant):

  • The gardener warned that rue can cause skin irritation.
  • Rue was once commonly used in herbal medicine.

• Verb:

  • You will rue the day you made that choice.
  • He rued his decision to sell the property so early.

Advanced Usage

• "To rue the day/hour/moment (that)...": This is a common, emphatic structure used to express deep regret for a specific past event or decision.
  • I rue the day I agreed to help him with his project.
• "More to be pitied than rued": A literary phrase suggesting someone's situation deserves sympathy more than censure or blame for their regretful actions.

Variants and Related Words

• Rueful (adj): Expressing or feeling sorrow or regret, often with a hint of irony or resignation.
  • He gave a rueful smile when he realized his mistake.
• Ruefully (adv): In a manner that shows regret.
  • She ruefully admitted she had been wrong.

Synonyms

• Noun (Emotion): Regret, remorse, contrition, sorrow, penitence.
• Verb: Regret, repent, lament, bemoan, deplore.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations

• To rue one's actions/words/decision: A standard collocation for the verb form.
  • She lived to rue her impulsive decision.
• Full of rue: A descriptive phrase for the noun form.
  • His apology was full of rue.

Related Idioms

• "Rue the consequences": To bitterly regret the outcomes of one's actions.
  • If you ignore the rules, you will rue the consequences.
• "A rueful reflection": A thought or period of thinking back on something with regret.
  • His memoir contained many a rueful reflection on his youth.

Noun

1. (French) a street or road in France
2. sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
   • he drank to drown his sorrows
   • he wrote a note expressing his regret
   • to his rue, the error cost him the game
3. leaves sometimes used for flavoring fruit or claret cup but should be used with great caution: can cause irritation like poison ivy
4. European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy

Verb

1. feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about