Rue

rue
    n 1: European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green
         bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
         [syn: {rue}, {herb of grace}, {Ruta graveolens}]
    2: leaves sometimes used for flavoring fruit or claret cup but
       should be used with great caution: can cause irritation like
       poison ivy
    3: 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" [syn: {sorrow}, {regret}, {rue}, {ruefulness}]
    4: (French) a street or road in France
    v 1: feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about [syn:
         {repent}, {regret}, {rue}]
    

Rue \Rue\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rued} (r[udd]d); p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Ruing}.] [OE. rewen, reouwen, to grive, make sorry, AS.
   hre['o]wan; akin to OS. hrewan, D. rouwen, OHG. hriuwan, G.
   reuen, Icel. hryggr grieved, hryg[eth] sorrow. [root] 18. Cf.
   {Ruth}.]
   1. To lament; to regret extremely; to grieve for or over.
      --Chaucer.
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            I wept to see, and rued it from my heart. --Chapmen.
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            Thy will
            Chose freely what it now so justly rues. --Milton.
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   2. To cause to grieve; to afflict. [Obs.] "God wot, it rueth
      me." --Chaucer.
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   3. To repent of, and withdraw from, as a bargain; to get
      released from. [Prov. Eng.]
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Rue \Rue\ (r[udd]), n. [F. rue, L. ruta, akin to Gr. "ryth`; cf.
   AS. r[=u]de.]
   1. (Bot.) A perennial suffrutescent plant ({Ruta
      graveolens}), having a strong, heavy odor and a bitter
      taste; herb of grace. It is used in medicine.
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            Then purged with euphrasy and rue
            The visual nerve, for he had much to see. --Milton.
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            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. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.
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   2. Fig.: Bitterness; disappointment; grief; regret.
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   {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.
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Rue \Rue\, v. i.
   1. To have compassion. [Obs.]
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            God so wisly [i. e., truly] on my soul rue.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            Which stirred men's hearts to rue upon them.
                                                  --Ridley.
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   2. To feel sorrow and regret; to repent.
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            Work by counsel and thou shalt not rue. --Chaucer.
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            Old year, we'll dearly rue for you.   --Tennyson.
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Rue \Rue\, n. [AS. hre['o]w. See {Rue}, v. t.]
   Sorrow; repetance. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Rue
a garden herb (Ruta graveolens) which the Pharisees were careful
to tithe (Luke 11:42), neglecting weightier matters. It is
omitted in the parallel passage of Matt. 23:23. There are
several species growing wild in Palestine. It is used for
medicinal and culinary purposes. It has a powerful scent, and is
a stimulant. (See {MINT}.)
    

28 Moby Thesaurus words for "rue":
      affliction, anguish, be sorry for, bemoan, bewail, care,
      commiseration, compassion, compunction, contriteness, contrition,
      deplore, dole, grief, heartache, heartbreak, penance, penitently,
      regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repent, repentance, repine,
      rue the day, ruth, sympathy, woe