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What is the difference between perennial and rue?

perennial | rue |

As nouns the difference between perennial and rue

is that perennial is a perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons compare (annual), (biennial) while rue is (archaic|or|dialectal) sorrow; repentance; regret or rue can be any of various perennial shrubs of the genus , especially the herb (taxlink), formerly used in medicines.

As a adjective perennial

is lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.

As a verb rue is

(obsolete|transitive) to cause to repent of sin or regret some past action.

perennial

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.
  • a perennial stream
  • (botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle of more than two years. Compare (annual), (biennial).
  • (figuratively) Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; permanent; unceasing; never failing.
  • * 1790 ,
  • The perennial existence of bodies corporate and their fortunes are things particularly suited to a man who has long views…
  • (figuratively) Enduring; lasting; timeless.
  • His artwork has a perennial beauty.
  • (figuratively) Recurrent; appearing or recurring again and again.
  • Change is a perennial theme in politics.

    Derived terms

    * perennially

    Noun

    (Perennial plant) (en noun)
  • A perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons. Compare (annual), (biennial).
  • rue

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) rewe, reowe, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (-)
  • (archaic, or, dialectal) Sorrow; repentance; regret.
  • (archaic, or, dialectal) Pity; compassion.
  • Derived terms
    * rueful * ruth

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) , from Germanic. Cognate with Dutch rouwen, German reuen.

    Verb

  • (obsolete) To cause to repent of sin or regret some past action.
  • (obsolete) To cause to feel sorrow or pity.
  • To repent of or regret (some past action or event); to wish that a past action or event had not taken place.
  • I rued the day I crossed paths with her.
  • * (rfdate) Chapman
  • I wept to see, and rued it from my heart.
  • * (rfdate) Milton
  • Thy will chose freely what it now so justly rues .
  • (archaic) To feel compassion or pity.
  • * Late 14th century Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Franklin's Tale’, Canterbury Tales
  • Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte
  • * (rfdate) Ridley
  • which stirred men's hearts to rue upon them
  • (archaic) To feel sorrow or regret.
  • * (rfdate) Tennyson
  • Old year, we'll dearly rue for you.
    Usage notes
    Most frequently used in the collocation “rue the day”.

    Etymology 3

    (wikipedia rue) From (etyl) ruwe, (etyl) rue (> modern French rue), from (etyl) . Compare (rude).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various perennial shrubs of the genus Ruta , especially the herb , formerly used in medicines.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.2:
  • But th'aged Nourse, her calling to her bowre, / Had gathered Rew , and Savine, and the flowre / Of Camphora, and Calamint, and Dill [...].
  • * c. 1600 , (William Shakespeare), , (Ophelia):
  • There’s fennel for you, and columbines: there’s rue''' for you; and here’s some for me: we may call it herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your ' rue with a difference.
    Synonyms
    * garden rue * herb of grace
    Derived terms
    * goat's rue * rue anemone * Syrian rue * wall rue

    References

    Anagrams

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