Words of the Day 21/6/10

This week theme is about double-words

You've heard of ruthless but did you know you can also be ruthful ?

ruth·less   (rooth-lis)
–adjective
without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless: a ruthless tyrant.

Origin:
1300–50; ME; see ruth, -less

ruthless

early 14c., from reuthe  "pity, compassion" (late 12c.), formed from reuwen  "to rue" (see rue (v.)) on the model of true/truth , etc. Ruthful  (early 13c.) has fallen from use since late 17c. except as a deliberate archaism

—Related forms
ruth·less·ly, adverb
ruth·less·ness, noun

—Synonyms
unrelenting, adamant, relentless.

ruth·ful  [rooth-fuhl] 
–adjective
1. compassionate or sorrowful.
2. causing or apt to cause sorrow or pity.
3. feeling remorse or self-reproach.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME; see ruth, -ful

Answers to Which Words 015

Collate (a)put together
Dulcet (b)melodious
Evert (c)turn inside out,  Sorry not Chris Evert the tennis player.

Which Words 016

Fraternal (a)dishonest (b)brotherly (c)friendly
Goby (a)a rock-clingling fish (b)a grotesque mischievous sprite (c)an Eastern Asian desert
Haberdashery (a)buttons, needles and ribbons etc. (b)a native enviroment (c)manual skill or dexterity

The answers will appear in the next words of the day

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does rue have anything to do with rude ?