Rue
/ruː/noun
A bitter herb of the genus Ruta, or the feeling of regret for something done or left undone.
Did you know?In medieval and folk tradition, rue was carried or planted as a protective herb, and its name also became the English verb for deep regret, as if sorrow itself had a botanical scent.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reu-
“to moisten, flow”
Ancient Greek
Greek
rhýtos / rhyetai
“flowing, flowing away”
Latin
Latin
ruta
“rue, the bitter herb”
Old English
English
rūe
“the rue plant”
Old English
English
hrēowan
“to feel sorrow, regret”
Modern English
English
rue
“the plant; to regret deeply”