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If you remember your high school French, or if you've ever strolled down the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, you may have the notion that the English word rue is somehow connected to the French word for "street." In actuality, the French and English words are not related at all. Indeed, the English rue traveled its own road: it comes originally from the Old English word hrēow, meaning "sorrow." Used as both a noun meaning "sorrow, regret," and, more frequently, a verb meaning "to feel sorrow or regret for something," rue is very old, dating to before the 12th century. As for the rue that refers to an aromatic culinary and medicinal herb, that word has another history altogether, coming ultimately from the Greek word rhytē.
Synonyms
Examples of rue in a Sentence
Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
The hosts would live to rue their inability to convert those opportunities however, appearing powerless to stop Kenan Yildiz as Thuram found the no.10 just inside the box.
—Adam Digby, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
The hotel, now three years old, is certainly where all rues lead to during the Paris shows.
—Mark Holgate, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near rue
Cite this Entry
“Rue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rue. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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rue
2 of 2 nounMedical Definition
rue
noun
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