- Sorrow for the misery of another; pity; tenderness.(Poetic)"They weep for ruth."Chaucer."Have ruthof the poor."Piers Plowman."To stir up gentle ruth, Both for her noble blood, and for her tender youth." [Spenser.]
- That which causes pity or compassion; misery; distress; a pitiful sight.(Obs)"It had been hard this ruth for to see." [Chaucer.]"With wretched miseries and woeful ruth." [Spenser.]
Etymology: From Rue (v.): cf. Icel. hryggð hrygð