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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rew, v. Also: reu, rewe; rue, rwe; rowe. [ME and e.m.E. reowe(n (c1200), rewe(n (c1250), ru (Cursor M.), OE hréowan.]There is overlapping between several of the main senses.

I. 1. impers. It sall him rew, he will regret it. 1375 Barb. ii 330.
He that will trew His fa, it sall him sum-tyme rew

II. tr. 2. To regret (something that one has done) because of its consequences, or potential consequences.To rew (an action) an evill rew, (if correct) ? to regret bitterly. (Cf. to rew ane rase, Ras(e n.¹ 4 d.)(1) 1375 Barb. iv 593.
Other sum … That rewyt syne thar barganyng ?1438 Alex. ii 1246.
I sall … gar him rew his neir cuming c1460 Consail Vys Man 46.
Oft-tyme thai brew, Quhilk eftirwart ful sare thai rew a1500 Seven S. 1408.
It that I did I rewe full saire 1535 Stewart 1470.
Do nocht this da the morne that ȝe will rew 1540 Lynd. Sat. 459 (B).
I rew … Nor I had previt hir my sell a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 429/8.
Thai rew To found ane pleye that euer thai pretendit a1578 Pitsc. II 16/21.
He rewit the promisse maid to my lord of Lennox a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1568.
The word I spak never, I rewit never(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 972.
Bot he in thame ruit his techi[n]g c1475 Wall. viii 857.
The layff raturnyt … And rwyt full sar that euyr thai furth coud found(2) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 291.
Gyf scho ware mare rakles of it … scho suld rew it farly sare c1475 Wall. viii 686.
To gyff battaill we sall it rew apayn a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 2/24.
Thair gudmen had caus to rewit That euer thair wyfis wair sic geir 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 53.
Scho sould caus hir revit that scho [etc.] 1648 Dunferm. Kirk S. 27.
The said William Crichtoun … said that he should not rew it ones, bot ever(3) 1623 Crim. Trials II 537.
Scho skaillit swm [water], quhilk scho rewis ane evill rew

3. To regret the fact that something exists, or has happened; to deplore (an event, fact, etc.); to lament.To rew (the rinning of) (a, the, etc.) rase, see Ras(e n.¹ 4 d. c1420 Wynt. iv 894.
Leonyde alsua slayne wes thare, That Spartane rew may evermare c1460 Thewis Wysmen 295.
We sal it rew ful sare, Quhen we are aild and ma na mare c1475 Wall. xi 265.
The king … Rewid in his mynd at it was hapnyt sa c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 43.
Reueill gif ȝe rewit that rakles conditioun Ib. (O.U.P.) 161/18. 1513 Doug. ii ii 74.
Quhil the solysting of Calcas I mycht rew 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4150.
That iurdane I may rew, It gart my heid ryn hiddy giddy c1552 Id. Mon. 598. 1570 Sat. P. xvi 27.
The quene his doingis sair did rew a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 9/58.
Richt sair I rew … Thair is sa few that dar avowit 1594 James VI in Warrender P. MS fol. 112.
I rew my sicht that vewis the evident spectacle of a seduced quene 15.. Misc. Spald. C. II xxix.
Small fowlis … did rue The winteris wrath 1600-1610 Melvill 298.
This act … was mikle rowed and detested a1603 Anc. Prophecies 14.
Throw a tretie of a true, a trayne shalbe made, That Scotland shal rew 1646 Elgin Rec. II 255.
Scho wald gar the toun rew that scho was banisched 1677 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 87.
[She] hitt Patrike Govean upon the breist with a stone and said shoe rewt bot it hade hit his bleckinit face

4. To pity (a person, state or condition); to feel sorry for.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi 284.
Thar is no man That he ne will rew a [C. rew vp on, 1571 rew of] woman than a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 966.
Schir Gawyne thai rew c1475 Wall. vii 1063.
Thai rewid nocht ws a1568 Scott xxvi 31.
Thay wald be rewit and hes no rewth(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 684.
Sare rewit scho thare fare a1500 Henr. Orph. 193.
Jupiter … Quhilk rewit sare his lamentation 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2670.
Ȝour infortoun full sair I rew

5. To repent (wrongdoing). 1567 G. Ball. 126.
The sinfull than … Sall … rew thair sinnis with thair hart

III. intr. 6. To feel, or take, pity or compassion. Const. of or on (apon) a person or his state of mind, sufferings, etc.Also without const. (the quot. from Sempill may properly belong to one of the other intr. senses below).Common in Scott.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 555.
Pray to God … That of myn wyfis saule he rew c1450-2 Howlat 859 (A).
Than rewit thir riallis of that rath mane a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1087 (Asl.).
Of thi misreull think tyme it war to rewe a1500 Quare Jel. 59.
Sche … said, ‘Goddesse Imeneus thou rewe Of me’ a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1160. 1375 Barb. (1571) xvi 284 (see 4 (1) above).
Off my seruice, Lady, ȝe suld nocht rew(2) 1375 Barb. xvi 280 (C) (see 4 (1) above). 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3563.
Thare sall neuer man fra this day rew on me a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 4.
Robene, thow rew on me; I haif thé lovit lowd and still 1490 Irland Mir. I 89/13.
That the mercy of God had rewit on him c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 15/23.
Rew on me, Jesu Ib. (S.T.S.) lxx 26.
Rew on our syn 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 146.
And scho, reuthles, agane rewys on thé Ib. 201. 1535 Stewart 53271.
Beseikand him … To haif petie and rew on him that tyme 15.. Dunb. App. x 39.
Exyll all sichand, on thy scherwand rew! Arundel MS 276/15.
Thow rew apoun his woundis reid, That for thé deit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8435.
All in ane voice thair hartis vpon him rewit a1568 Scott xiii 27.
Gif ȝe vpoun me rew Ib. xxxvi 4.
Lord God, … Soir mornyng, grufling on my face, Rew on my miserie a1661 Rutherford Cry from the Dead (1765) 10.
Pilate … brought him forth to the people, to see if they would rue on him(3) a1568 Scott ix 30.
It is ane hairt … set in to sabill, Ane wofull hairt, bot gif ȝe rew Ib. xxx 54.
And rin nocht reklesly to rew 1583 Sempill Warning vii.
Ane rewthfull revar vill nocht be russet to rew

7. To feel regret for something done or left undone.Also const. in or of the thing done.(1) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 116.
Thocht at the tother party of thaim rew, … that cunnand ourcumis the law a1500 Henr. Orph. 407.
Quha seruis thé [sc. Love] … Perchance sum tyme he sall haue cause to rewe a1500 Rauf C. 549. 1535 Stewart 23031.
Bot gif thow raik out of my renk, full raith sall thow rew 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5487.
Sum will say fals and efter rew, for gredynes a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 89/48.
Scho is ane turtill trew … Quha lovis hir sall not rew ?1592 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 173.
Giff ye do it not ye will rewe a1605 Montg. Misc. P. vi 25.
Bot vhat remeid? It is no tym to reu 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 234.
I hope that ye do not rue, though your cause be hated(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 98.
Thow sall rew in thi ruse, wit thow but wene a1500 K. Hart 567.
Thow bird think schame and of thy riot rew 1609 Crim. Trials III 47.
I hoip in God, Charlis, ȝe sall nocht rew of ȝour cumming heir 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 148.
Rue not of your having chosen the better part 1680 Cunningham Diary 21.
The … men rewed of the bargain 1686 Cramond Kirk S. II 4 Dec.
Isobell Anderson … laide 2 dollars of pledge, and then rewing of her intended purpose … and desireing her pledge of marriage to be given back to her, the Session refused

8. To feel remorse; to repent. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 18/87.
Into thir pointis quhair I have offendit, sair I rew Ib. 175/5.
Remeid in tyme and rew nocht all to lait a1497, 15.. Gray MS iv 138.
Oute of this warld thow sall sair rew, Becaus that thow art sa vnkynd c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3845.
Jerusalem, and thow knew Thy gret rewyne, sore wald thow rew 1573 Davidson Three Reformers 98.

9. To feel grief; to lament. 1513 Doug. xi ii 12.
Quhen all wightis mycht rew on hym to se a1603 Anc. Prophecies 4.
When the rauen roupes, many man shall rue