remorse

[ri-mawrs]

noun

1. deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction.

   Synonyms: contrition

2. Obsolete.,  pity; compassion.

remorse

/ rɪˈmɔːs /

noun

1. a sense of deep regret and guilt for some misdeed

2. compunction; pity; compassion

Other Word Forms

• remorsefully adverb
• remorseful adjective
• remorsefulness noun
• preremorse noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remorse¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English from Middle French remors from Medieval Latin remorsus, past participle of Latin remordēre, “to bite back, vex, nag,” equivalent to Latin re- re- + mordēre “to bite” ( mordant )

Word History and Origins

Origin of remorse¹

C14: from Medieval Latin remorsus a gnawing, from Latin remordēre to bite again, from _re- + mordēre to bite

Synonym Study

See regret.

Related Words

• anguish 
• compassion 
• contrition 
• grief 
• guilt 
• penance 
• pity 
• regret 
• repentance 
• shame 
• sorrow