Middle English Dictionary Entry
reuth(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | reuth(e n. Also reuththe, reude, reut, reuethe, reuithȝ, reuȝ, rieuthe, roth, routh(e, rouith, rouȝthe, ruth(e & (chiefly NWM) rauthe & (chiefly early SW & SWM) reouthe & (early) reoðe, reuðhe, reuhþe, rute & (error) rich; pl. reuthes, etc. & (early SWM) reoðen, reouðen, reouden, ræuðen. |
| Etymology | From ON (cp. OI hrygð), with vowels and diphthongs influenced by OE hrēow; also cp. ME reuen v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Pity, compassion, sympathy; also, mercy; alas for ~; (b) haven ~ of (on, upon), to have pity or mercy on (sb., a soul, etc.); nimen (taken) ~ of, take pity on (sb.); (c) haven ~, to be sorry (to do sth.); have pity; haven (a) ~, be sorry (that sth. is the case); haven ~ for (of, on upon), have pity because of (sth.), have pity for (misfortune, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)149 : Þe gastliche rode is inemned heorte sar..and rowðe for his emcristenes wawe.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)115/20 : Make seihte betwen Milce and Rih[t]wisnesse, and Dom and Rewðe make wel to-gedere!
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)122/2 : Ich þohte..þet ich walde awakenin þe, & for þu sleptest swote, ne mah ich for reowðe [Cleo: reuðe; Nero: reouðe].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1445 : Ne mai ich for reoþe lete, Wanne ich iseo þe tohte ilete Þe luue bring on þe ȝunglinge.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)104 : Ruben, þat o broþer..Ne miȝte he for reuþe atte pette be þo.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2608 : Ghe wiste it was of ebrius kin, And ðog cam hire rewde wið-in.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)189/17 : Acorsed ssel by þet uram reuþe went þane reg at þo daye.
- c1390 Whon alle soþes (Vrn)19 : Þen mostou..schewe to him such boxumnesse, Þat rouþe in his herte may ryse.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)99 : O reut [Frf: petey], o loue, and charite, Was neuer hir mak.
- a1400 Loue is out (Hrl 7322)5 : Reuthþe and treuthþe and charite, Beþ out of lond alle þreo.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)85.4 : For þu, lauerd, softe and milde to se, And of fele rewthes [vr. mercies] til al kalland þe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7340 : Thelephus Humblely requerid of Achille Of knyȝtly rouȝþe his axyng to fulfille.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)131 : His hevenly eyeghen, allas, deeþe haþe eblent, Who might for routhe [vr. Rowth] susteyne and to beholde?
- a1450 Bevis (Cai 175/96)p.35 : Whan þe kyng say..hou it fferde, So moche rewe þe [read: reweþe] he hadde þere þat þe teres watten hys lere.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)42/214 : Alas for gret ruthe of þis gret vengeaunce.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)46/100 : Alas for ruthe, it is pete!
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)380 : Ruful, or ful of roth and pyte.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)532 : Other Councell, it are but fantasise, Saf of your grace to shewe pite and routhe.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)95 : Miserere anime tue..haue reoðe of þin ogen sovle.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)91/31 : He [body] ne hafð but..ðat menn..him giuen willeð, ðo ðe of him rewðhe habbeð.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)19/12 : Habbeð reowðe of þeo þe beoð i stronge temptatiuns.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)19/14 : Sikeð to ure lauerd þet he neome reowðe [Cleo: reuðe] of ham.
- a1275 Ful feir flour (Trin-C B.14.39)33 : Mon, have rouþe of þe one for þi lif nis boten a lone.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)322 : Of þe kynge of heuene none reuþe hi nedde.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1526 : Of him no rewithȝ haued þei non.
- (a1333) Herebert Holy wrouhte (Add 46919)5 : Þou hedest ruþe of wordl vorlore Þorou deth of sunfol rote.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)784 : Iantail knyȝt, of me tak rewþe as þow art god & hende.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.9.36 : Forsothe Jhesus, siynge cumpanyes, hadde rewthe of [WB(2): on] hem; for thei weren..as sheep nat hauynge a sheperde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1060 : O hihe mageste..Tak of thi wofull womman rowthe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4738 : Ha reuth on vs [Frf: of us], þou blisced man, And len vs sumquat o þi sede.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.91 : I do me in ȝowre grace, Haue on me reuth [vr. ruþe], riȝtful ihesu!
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)508 : Þey hadde no rewþe of men of holy cherche.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)252 : Two barons..Þat al þe treson vndurstode And hadde reuþthe of heore blode..þey tok anoþir red.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.17 : Jesus..seide, Y have ruþ upon þe peple.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1861 : Of hir had al the toun of Rome routhe.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)30/31 : Supposyng..for to..styrre hym to hafe rewthe on þe citee.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)605 : Of my sowle I haue non rewthe. What schulde I recknen of domysday?
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)12/80 : Knowe þi modur & ha ruthe & compassiun vpon hire.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2135 : Sith he is my husbond & hath on me no rowith, Let hym make a-mendis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)243/22 : They sente unto kynge Arthure..and besought hym as soverayne to have ruthe of the peple.
- a1500(?c1370) ?Chaucer Comp.A.(Benson-Robinson)6 : On hir..Which hath on me no mercy ne no rewthe.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)63/23 : Hie dieð him arst habben reuhðe..of alle unȝelimpes ðe him..to-cumeð.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9228 : Þis bissop was ney to grounde ibroȝt..þat me adde reuþe þat him iknewe.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)745 : Þilke duk..Nou to spleke rewþe he hadde.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)421 : Vnder heuen nas þat it ne miȝt haue rewþe Of his sorwenes & of his trewþe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.21.15 : Þe lord sawȝ & hadde rewþe [WB(2): merci] vp on þe mykilnesse of euyl, & he comaundide to þe aungil þat smot, it sufficeþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.36.26 : Al dai he haþ rewþe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.579 : Som what this lord hath routhe in his manere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.192 : Of þe wo þat I was in my wyf had reuthe, And wisshed ful witterly þat I were in heuene.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)21 : Thay ar happen also þat han in hert rauþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2522 : I þinke..To..schape a remedie, Swiche rauthe I haue þat ȝe schal dye.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)119/4 : Þis deuoute soule angwischid..hauynge ruþe and pytee vpon þe blyndenes of siche wrecchide creaturis.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)170/18 : Þei crien goostly in my siȝt..hauynge moore pytee and ruþe for þe offence þat is doon to me..þan for her owne iniuries and wrongis.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)404/414 : He had a routhe that goddis creature..Sholde in helle eternal peyne endure.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)7417 : Of your sorow now hath She routhe.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)127 : Thou hast more reuthe on oure adversitee Than..might any tonge telle.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)34/15 : Þou doist þi bisines..to haue pite and riewthe of alle here infirmytees.
- c1450(1446) Nightingale (Clg A.2)14/372 : We aght ryth well compassion haue & reuth, For to remenbre his peynes and repreues.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)405 : It longeth to all maydyns for to haue ruthe and compassion.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)8/1 : Þe bisshop..mych reut had of his enemyte & of his mych lostes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12108 : All þe folke were..of fyn will To haue reft hir the rynke for ruth þat þai had.
2.
(a) Sorrow, grief; mid (with) ~, sorrowfully, wretchedly, lamentably; (b) remorse, regret, contrition; pl. expressions of remorse; haven ~ of, to be sorry for (sins); (c) lamentation; maken ~; (d) a lament, complaint; also, special pleading.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6473 : Þe king dæd læi & þe swike fleh awæi; Þat word com to herede hu þe king iuaren hafde, þa wes muchel reoðe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14647 : Þus wes þa riche burh mid reouðen for-demed.
- ?a1300 *Body & S.(4) (Dgb 86)13 : Þo spac þe gost mid rute red after ful iuis: Wer is þi muchele pruide, þi ver and þi gris?
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)39/673 : Muchel was þe ruþe Þat was at þare truþe; For Rymenhild weop ille, & horn let þe tires stille.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2115 : Al murrþe was seced riuedliche þurth rome & reuþe bi-gunne.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.71 : Allas for..Sir Harald, for him was mikelle reuth, Fulle wele his awen suld hald, if he had kept his treuth.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)858 : Ȝe remen for rauþe wythouten reste, We þurȝoutly hauen cnawyng.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Pass.(Hrl 4196)125/1216a : When he was þus with rewth araid, Þan pilat to þe puple said, 'Vnto ȝow furth I sall him bring.'
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)292 : For sorowe and routhe of your unkyndenesse I wepe, I wake, I faste.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)16915 : Aman has sett his howse be syd A gebett..Mardocheus þer with rewth to ryde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)222/15 : Than wepte kynge Arthure for routhe at his herte and seyde, 'Thou shalt lyve for ever, my herte thynkes.'
- a1500 Man be war or (BodPoet e.1)p.34 : Man, be war or thou knyte the faste; Oftyn ran rewth at the last.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)49 : Vte we..habben on ure heorte sorinesse and reuðe of ure synnes.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)83 : Þeh he him bidde mid his muð, he..for reuðe ne wepeð none hote teres of his egen.
- a1350 Heȝe louerd (Hrl 2253)14 : Vnwunne haueþ myn wonges wet þat makeþ me rouþes rede.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9854 : His hert was ful of sorwe & reuþe; He biþouȝt him, wiþ wrong His wiif he hadde helden long Oȝaines riȝt þurch iniquite.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26052 : Reuth clensses saul o plight and sak.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.165 : Lytel hadde lordes a-do to ȝeue londe..To religion [read: religious] þat han no reuthe þauh hit reyne in here auters.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)21/23 : Wid greting sal sho do, and wyd reuþe of herte, þe penance þat es laid on hir.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)22/9 : For to moneste hir, þat sho haue reuþe in herte of hir misdedis.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6258 : Þer wes wop, þer wes rop, & reoðen [Otho: rouþe] vnimete.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6261 : Bruttes bilafden inne þisse londe mid vnimete reoðe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11759 : Þer wes wop..and reouden [Otho: gredinge] vniuohȝe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)122/857 : Nalde ȝe neauer remen ne makie reoðe [Roy: reowðe] for me, þe feare to eche reste.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)235 : Alle þe childrin..alle he lette slen; þer was sori, wop, rouþe, & muchel rem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4200 : This Iohn..to hymself he maketh routhe and wo.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7969 : Ac noman..Ne seiȝ neuere so mychel reuþe Of weep, of cry, of honde wryngyng, So was for Alisaunder þe kyng.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)669 : This woful Cleopatre hath mad swich routhe That ther is tonge non that may it telle.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)303 : Was noȝt bot roryng & rich [read: ruth] in alle þe riche tounnes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8696 : 'Alasse, the losse..of oure lefe prinse!'..On this wise all the weke woke þai within With Remyng & rauthe, Renkes to be-hold.
d
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)499 : Clariz iherde þes ille reuþe Of trewnesse & of trewþe.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)240 : Ne for no monnes manas ne meschefe ne routhe Non gete me fro þe heghe gate to glent out of ryȝt.
3.
(a) An occasion or cause of pity or sorrow; a sad event or situation; something pitiful; (b) ~ to sen (beholden, devisen, heren, reden, tellen, witen); (c) injury, mischief, ill treatment, cruelty; ~ werk, an injurious action; werken ~, to cause damage or injury; (d) calamity, trouble; a dire event; (e) a condition of distress.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)219 : Acke nu is reweþe, for nu is euerihc man ifo þare he solde fren be.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)79/9 : Nis þis muche reowðe [Cai: reuþe] þet te fier..schal adruhien rindeles?
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3629 : Hii..sloue uaste in eyþer alf þat reuþe it was ynou.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)199 : Rewþe mow ȝe here Of roulandriis þe kniȝt..on wiþ tresoun þere Þurch þe bodi him piȝt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1597 : I scholde in such a wise In rewardinge of my servise Be ded, me thenkth it were a rowthe.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)1023 : Dredry mot ȝe be, Þis rouþ by þis children to see.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)151/1917 : Antwere and Enias plyȝt þer her trowþes To begyle her lord; þat was grete routh.
- a1400 Men hem bimenin (Mert 248)18 : Trwthe..ys dede, and tat is rwthe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2490 : It is to hiȝe a routhe A man to apere..whan his worschip is ded.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)1420 : In þe kynges court is mukil reouþe Of þe kynges chaumburleyn.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22115 : Peti and reuȝ to mannes þoght, How he siþen with her fair cors wroght!
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)59/16 : Þei..haddyn gold a-now, whech may spede in euery nede; & þat is rewth þat mede xuld spede er þan trewth.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2241 : Sir Bedwere was borne thurghe..With a burlyche braunde..rewthe es the more.
- a1450(?c1350) Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)346 : He bicomit onkynd, And þat is reut.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)286/389 : No ruthe were it to rug þe and ryue þe in ropes.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.312 : For mayntenance many day, well more is þe reuthe, Hath y-had mo men..Þan ony cristen kynge.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)330/168 : Ye haue it hart, and that is rawth, ye can no better stand therby Thyng that ye here.
b
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)184 : Woso seye Iacob his sorinesse lede, Hit were muche reuþe in boc for to rede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2258 : Þe brutons..bigonne vaste to fle, Some in roches, some in wodes, þat reuþe it was to se.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)358 : Nu is al turned to treccherie, and that is muchel reuthe to wite.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3270 : Þe cry rudli a-ros þat reuþe it was to hure.
- c1390 KTars (Vrn)38/207 : Þe Sarazins..Slowe vr cristene in batayle þat reuþe hit was to se.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)147 : Þe her of here heuedis..Spradde abrod on þe water..Ruthe hadde ben to se.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.495 : It is reuth to rede how riȝtwis men lyued, How þei defouled her flessh.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2204 : Þene herde he..a wonder breme noyse..What! hit rusched & ronge, rawþe to here.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1249 : Swich sorwe as he hath maked..cheere, It is a routhe and pite for to here.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1311 : She kneleth, cryeth, that routhe is to devyse.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5144 : Þai were robbours..Lichours, þat pure men supprys, Þat was reuth to se.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1786 : Gret Ruth it was to tell How her maydens on her fell Her to..hide.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)129/418 : It is rewthe to beholde, Now inhote, now in colde.
- c1450 Eglam.(Clg A.2)991 : A gret rewthe yt was to here How he called aftur Cristabell.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1986 : A myst & a merkenes..With a routond rayn ruthe to be holde.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10064 : Him halded after hauekes swifte hundes in þan reode mid reouðe hine imeteð.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)42/17 : Alle remden þet on hire softe siden sehen þet rewðe [Roy: reowðe].
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7693,7698 : He de[de] ribaudes ten þousinde Bren þat þai miȝtten finde, So he dede michel rewþe..Gawaynet..and his gentil feren Al þis reuþe deden heren.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.562 : I trowe that to a norice..It hadde been hard this routhe for to se.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1430 : The Romaynes..Overrydez oure rerewarde and grette rewthe wyrkes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3560 : I sall it revenge; Hym sall repente full rathe all his rewthe werkes.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)174 : They haue also raunsouned toune by toune..Whyche hathe bene ruthe unto thys realme.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)899 : Þe Romayns resen..whan þey þ[i]s rewþe seyen, To quelle þe emperour ..þat hem vnquemed hadde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4010 : Sire, it is better for to bate..Þan se þis rewthe on ȝour renkis & reft be ȝour gudis.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12729 : Arður bi-tahte al..Moddrade and þere quene..Þat was ufele idon..þis lond heo for-radden mid ræuðen uniuoȝen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15870 : An his daȝen ilompen reoðen on leoden. Ærst aswond þat corn.. þat quale com on orue.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)16/225 : Weila þet reowðe. Ne acwikeð neauer meiðhad efter þet wunde.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)32/11 : Beginnunge & rote of al þis ilke reowðe wes aliht sihðe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8378 : A womman loueþ ofte in pryuyte..Ȝyf she to þat ȝeueþ here treuþe, Þat ys here ful moche reuþe..Þurgh cunseyl of here frendys..She ys þan ȝyue a-noþer vntyl.. Þat womman leueþ yn lechery.
e
- a1350 Wiþ longyng (Hrl 2253)8 : Leuedi, þou rewe me! To rouþe þou hauest me rad.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6828 : Leuer hem were be ded..Þan euer more liue in rewþe.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)1594 : He þoȝt..his faes to bring al of life, and to ruthe wrange and strife.