rewen

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English hrēowan; equivalent to rewe (“rue”) +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Alternative forms

• reowen, ruwen, ruen, reouwen, rowen, reowe, riewe, rewe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈriu̯ən/

Verb

rewen

1. To experience shame, remorse or regret.
   • Late 14th century Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Franklin's Tale’, Canterbury Tales

     Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte

2. To experience distress; to be of grave concern.
3. To feel compassion or sympathy.
4. (theology) To be repentant.

Conjugation

Conjugation of rewen (strong class 2 or weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) rewen, rewe
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	rewe	rew, rewed
2nd-person singular	rewest	rowe, rew, rewedest
3rd-person singular	reweth	rew, rewed
subjunctive singular	rewe	rowe1, rewed1
imperative singular		—
plural2	rewen, rewe	rowen, rowe, reweden, rewede
imperative plural	reweth, rewe	—
participles	rewynge, rewende	rowen, rowe, rewed

¹ Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
² Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: rue
• Scots: rew

References

• “reuen, v.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-8.

Etymology 2

Verb

rewen

1. Alternative form of rowen (“to emit light”)

Etymology 3

Noun

rewen

1. Alternative form of ruyne