rua, “to shout,” strong’s H7321

The first occurrence.

But when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. Num 10:7

The primitive root.

Strong’s H7321 רוע rua, a primitive root meaning, “to shout,” literally, “to split the ears.” The 3-letter root is resh + vav + ayin, but according to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, the ayin was originally a ghah.

resh ר  =  the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
vav ו  =  the tent peg, thus add, secure, hook
ghah §  = rope, thus twisted, goat, dark, negative

The story: The man (resh) bound (vav) to a twisted way (ghah), i.e., one who does evil, causes a loud outcry of grief (from the victims of his evil actions is implied). The mournful outcry is the negative spin, the joyful outcry is the positive spin.

THE ANCIENT HEBREW LEXICON | INDEX OF HEBREW ROOTS