noun
ruth
rooth
noun
1
A deep feeling of pity or compassion for someone else's suffering (now old-fashioned).
"The old poem spoke of ruth for the fallen soldiers."
How to Use Ruth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old word for pity or compassion — rarely used on its own today, but everyone knows its opposite, "ruthless."
When to use it
Archaic outside of poetry or the negative form "ruthless"; using "ruth" by itself in modern speech will sound old-fashioned.
Word Forms
ruths plural
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The old poem spoke of _____ for the fallen soldiers.
Etymology
From Middle English reuthe, related to the verb "rue" (to regret) — the noun form survives today mainly in its negative, "ruthless."