repent

[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.

Origin of repent

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 formsre·pent·er, nounre·pent·ing·ly, adverbun·re·pent·ed, adjectiveun·re·pent·ing, adjectiveun·re·pent·ing·ly, adverb

repent

[ree-puh nt, ri-pent]

adjective

creeping.

Origin of repent

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

Related Words for repent

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

Examples from the Web for repent

Contemporary Examples of repent

A: You must repent for entertaining the notion of killing a person, especially as a means of resolving a dispute.
Dear Rabbi: Should I Shoot Women of the Wall?
Sigal Samuel
June 6, 2013
But rather than hiding away in a dark monastery to repent, Cardinal Law is instead an exalted member of Vatican inner circles.
The Cardinal Who Got Away
Barbie Latza Nadeau
May 11, 2010
Investigating signs and ads, such as Repent and Sin No More!
Warhol's Final Years
Paul Laster
October 8, 2009

Historical Examples of repent

If you don't put down that gun in double quick time, you'll repent it.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
The alderman saw no reason to repent his decision, hastily as it had been made.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
There, some are tempted to buy; and some repent of having bought.
De Libris: Prose and Verse
Austin Dobson
But after a night of cool reflection they began to repent of their haste.
Stories from Thucydides
H. L. Havell
If we have fallen into disgrace by sin, we should repent and lead a better life.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump

British Dictionary definitions for repent

repent

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

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

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.