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noun Common

ruth

rooth
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Ruth (noun) means a deep feeling of pity or compassion for someone else's suffering (now old-fashioned). Example: “The king showed no ruth for the beggars who gathered at his gate.”

noun
1
A deep feeling of pity or compassion for someone else's suffering (now old-fashioned).
"The king showed no ruth for the beggars who gathered at his gate."
"In the old tale, the knight felt ruth for the weeping stranger."
"The old poem spoke of ruth for the fallen soldiers."

How to use ruth

Learner’s notes

In 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.

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Word forms

Plural
ruths
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The king showed no _____ for the beggars who gathered at his gate.

Etymology

From Middle English reuthe, related to the verb "rue" (to regret) — the noun form survives today mainly in its negative, "ruthless."

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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pity compassion mercy sympathy tenderness pathos commiseration

Related words

heart agreement understanding loving humanity mercy yield pity

Rhymes for ruth

truth Bluth
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Frequently asked questions

What does “ruth” mean?
The word “ruth” means a deep feeling of pity or compassion for someone else's suffering (now old-fashioned). In plain terms, an old word for pity or compassion — rarely used on its own today, but everyone knows its opposite, "ruthless.".
How do you pronounce “ruth”?
“Ruth” is pronounced rooth (/ɹuθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ruth” in a sentence?
Here is “ruth” used in a sentence: “The old poem spoke of ruth for the fallen soldiers.”
What part of speech is “ruth”?
“Ruth” is a noun.
Where does the word “ruth” come from?
The word “ruth” comes from Middle English. From Middle English reuthe, related to the verb "rue" (to regret) — the noun form survives today mainly in its negative, "ruthless.".
Is “ruth” a common word?
“Ruth” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the connection between ruth and ruthless?
Ruthless literally means "without ruth" — without pity or compassion. The noun ruth has almost disappeared from everyday English, but it survives inside ruthless, which remains a common word.
Is the word ruth still used in modern English?
Rarely. Ruth, meaning deep pity or compassion for someone else's suffering, is now old-fashioned and appears mainly in literary or historical writing, while its negative counterpart ruthless is used all the time.
Is the word ruth related to the name Ruth?
No. The common noun ruth was formed in English from the verb rue, meaning to feel sorrow or regret, plus the ending -th (as in true/truth). The given name Ruth comes from Hebrew and reached English through the Bible, so the match in spelling is coincidence.

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