ruth
n. uncountablen. a feeling of pity or sadness for someone who is suffering. It is an old-fashioned word that you will mostly find in very old books or poems.
n. compassion, pity, or grief for the misery of another. This term is archaic in modern prose and is primarily encountered in literary or historical contexts.
The king showed no ruth to his enemies.
The ancient poem describes a warrior who felt a sudden pang of ruth for the orphans left behind after the battle.
In the tragic play, the protagonist's lack of ruth eventually leads to his isolation, as he ignores the suffering of those who once served him faithfully.
From Ruth the Moabite, Hebrew רות, of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "companion". Also associated with the English noun ruth (“compassion”) by Puritans.
Primarily used in literary, poetic, or archaic contexts; the negative form 'ruthless' is the standard modern derivative.