hreow

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /xre͜oːw/, [r̥e͜oːw]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *hrewwō.

Alternative forms

• hrēoƿ — wynn spelling

Noun

hrēow f

1. regret, remorse

   Wē sċulon bēon mihtiġe, and fæġre, and būtan hrēowe.

   We must be powerful, beautiful, and without regret.

   Iċ mǣne, hēr iċ eom, mid eallum þissum hrēowum libbende, þenċende þæt iċ yfelode ealle þās menn and tōwurpe mīn līf…

   I mean, here I am, living with all these regrets, thinking that I wronged all these people and ruined my life…

   Ne ætīewaþ hīe nāne hrēowe heora misdǣda, ac hīe begāþ forþ āne firene æfter ōðre.

   They show no remorse for their misdeeds, but continue to commit one crime after another.

2. repentance
3. sorrow

Declension

Declension of hreow (strong ō-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	hrēow	hrēowa, hrēowe
accusative	hrēowe	hrēowa, hrēowe
genitive	hrēowe	hrēowa
dative	hrēowe	hrēowum

Related terms

• hrēowan

Derived terms

• hrēowċeariġ
• hrēowiġ
• hrēowlīċ
• hrēowlīċe

Descendants

• Middle English: rewe, reowe
  • English: rue

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *hriwwiz.

Alternative forms

• hrēowe
• hrēoƿ — wynn spelling

Adjective

hrēow

1. sad
2. repentant

Declension

Declension of hrēow — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hrēow	hrēow	hrēow
Accusative	hrēowne	hrēowe	hrēow
Genitive	hrēowes	hrēowre	hrēowes
Dative	hrēowum	hrēowre	hrēowum
Instrumental	hrēowe	hrēowre	hrēowe
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hrēowe	hrēowa, hrēowe	hrēow
Accusative	hrēowe	hrēowa, hrēowe	hrēow
Genitive	hrēowra	hrēowra	hrēowra
Dative	hrēowum	hrēowum	hrēowum
Instrumental	hrēowum	hrēowum	hrēowum

Declension of hrēow — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hrēowa	hrēowe	hrēowe
Accusative	hrēowan	hrēowan	hrēowe
Genitive	hrēowan	hrēowan	hrēowan
Dative	hrēowan	hrēowan	hrēowan
Instrumental	hrēowan	hrēowan	hrēowan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	hrēowan	hrēowan	hrēowan
Accusative	hrēowan	hrēowan	hrēowan
Genitive	hrēowra, hrēowena	hrēowra, hrēowena	hrēowra, hrēowena
Dative	hrēowum	hrēowum	hrēowum
Instrumental	hrēowum	hrēowum	hrēowum