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definitions

repent

1
[ri-pent]
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verb (used without object)

to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often followed by of): He repented after his thoughtless act.
to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.

verb (used with object)

to remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition: to repent one's injustice to another.
to feel sorry for; regret: to repent an imprudent act.

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RELATED WORDS

atone, deplore, apologize, bewail, regret, reform, sorrow, lament, rue, relent

Nearby words

  1. repeating firearm,
  2. repechage,
  3. repel,
  4. repellant,
  5. repellent,
  6. repentance,
  7. repentant,
  8. repentigny,
  9. repeople,
  10. repercussion

Origin of repent

1
1250–1300; Middle English repenten < Old French repentir, equivalent to re- re- + pentir to feel sorrow (< Latin paenitēre to regret, be sorry); see penitent
Related forms

repent

2
[ree-puh nt, ri-pent]

adjective

creeping.

Origin of repent

2
1660–70; < Latin rēpent- (stem of rēpēns), present participle of rēpere to crawl, creep; see -ent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for repent

British Dictionary definitions for repent

repent

1

verb

to feel remorse (for); be contrite (about); show penitence (for)he repents of his extravagance; he repented his words
Derived Formsrepenter, noun

Word Origin for repent

C13: from Old French repentir from re- + pentir to be contrite, from Latin paenitēre to repent

adjective

botany lying or creeping along the ground; reptantrepent stems

Word Origin for repent

C17: from Latin rēpere to creep
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for repent

repent

v.

c.1300, "to feel such regret for sins or crimes as produces amendment of life," from Old French repentir (11c.), from re-, here probably an intensive prefix (see re-), + Vulgar Latin *penitire "to regret," from Latin poenitire "make sorry," from poena (see penal). The distinction between regret (q.v.) and repent is made in many modern languages, but the differentiation is not present in older periods. Related: Repented; repenting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper