rue

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
  2. noun leaves sometimes used for flavoring fruit or claret cup but should be used with great caution: can cause irritation like poison ivy
  3. noun sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment

Etymology

From Middle English rewe, reowe, from Old English hrēow (“sorrow, regret, penitence, repentance, penance”), from Proto-West Germanic *hreuwu (“pain, sadness, regret, repentance”). Cognates include German reuen (“to regret, to repent”) and Dutch rouwen (“to mourn, to grieve”). Probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *krows-. If so, note the same sense evolution with in this case cognate Russian круши́ть (krušítʹ, “to destroy, to shatter”), Russian сокруша́ться (sokrušátʹsja, “to be distressed, to grieve (for, over)”). Also compare Czech truchlit from Proto-Slavic *truxlъ.

In classic literature

Synonyms

herb of grace, Ruta graveolens

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