repose

[ ri-pohz ]

/ rɪˈpoʊz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR repose ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state of reposing or being at rest; rest; sleep.

peace; tranquillity; calm.

dignified calmness, as of manner; composure.

absence of movement, animation, etc.: When in repose, her face recalls the Mona Lisa.

verb (used without object), re·posed, re·pos·ing.

to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.

to lie dead: His body will repose in the chapel for two days.

to be peacefully calm and quiet: The sea reposed under the tropical sun.

to lie or rest on something.

Archaic. to depend or rely on a person or thing.

verb (used with object), re·posed, re·pos·ing.

to lay to rest; rest; refresh by rest (often used reflexively).

Nearby words

Origin of repose

1425–75; late Middle English reposen (v.) < Middle French reposer, Old French < Late Latin repausāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + Late Latin pausāre to rest (derivative of Latin pausa pause)

Related formsre·pos·ed·ly

[ri-poh-zid-lee] /rɪˈpoʊ zɪd li/, adverbre·pos·ed·ness, nounre·pos·er, noun

Can be confusedre-pose repose

repose

[ ri-pohz ]

/ rɪˈpoʊz /

verb (used with object), re·posed, re·pos·ing.

to put (confidence, trust, etc.) in a person or thing.

to put under the authority or at the disposal of a person.

Archaic. to deposit.

Origin of repose

1375–1425; late Middle English reposen to replace, representing Latin repōnere to put back; see re-, pose¹

re-pose

[ ree-pohz ]

/ riˈpoʊz /

verb (used with or without object), re-posed, re-pos·ing.

to pose again.

Origin of re-pose

re- + pose¹

Can be confusedre-pose repose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for repose

The other, Sophie Berthelot, was allowed in so she could repose in aeternum next to her spouse, the chemist Marcellin.
France Honors Women … Finally|Katie Baker|February 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And those in the middle mostly plow ahead, refreshed by the repose of spirit or soul so hard to find at the top or the bottom.
The Music Industry Is Dying? Great|James Poulos|December 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This is a still from a 2008 video called "Repose (on the Plinthe)", by Vancouver artist Adad Hannah.
Reflecting on Genius|Blake Gopnik|October 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When the action summits, and when the characters are in a state of repose.
Benjamin Percy: How I Write|Noah Charney|June 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Hillary Clinton seemed to be in a rare moment of repose while the Middle East erupted.
Hillary Clinton’s War for Women’s Rights|Gayle Tzemach Lemmon|March 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Its majestic form, as it towers high above the ordinary works of man, conveys the repose of conscious strength to the beholder.
Getting Acquainted with the Trees|J. Horace McFarland
Elizabeth had loved Edward, would she not go with Mary to hear a mass for the repose of his soul?
In the Days of Queen Elizabeth|Eva March Tappan
He was so unlike the ordinary run of landlords that one could only repose confidence in him and overlook small inattentions.
The Argosy|Various
The repose of provincial life was hard to bear in comparison.
Louis XIV and La Grande Mademoiselle|Arvede Barine
Love God and beginne betymes to repose yourself on Him; therein shall you find true and lastinge ritches, and endles comfort.
Great Ralegh|Hugh De Selincourt

British Dictionary definitions for repose

repose

/ (rɪˈpəʊz) /

noun

a state of quiet restfulness; peace or tranquillity

dignified calmness of manner; composure

verb

to place (oneself or one's body) in a state of quiet relaxation; lie or lay down at rest

(intr) to lie when dead, as in the grave

(intr ; foll by on, in, etc) formal to take support (from) or be based (on)your plan reposes on a fallacy

Derived Forms

reposal, nounreposer, nounreposeful, adjectivereposefully, adverb

reposefulness, noun

Word Origin for repose

C15: from Old French reposer, from Late Latin repausāre from re- + pausāre to stop; see pause

verb (tr)

to put (trust or confidence) in a person or thing

to place or put (an object) somewhere

Derived Formsreposal, noun

Word Origin for repose

C15: from Latin repōnere to store up, from re- + pōnere to put

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 repose

repose

v.1

"lie at rest," mid-15c., from Middle French reposer, from Old French repauser (10c.), from Late Latin repausare "cause to rest," from Latin re-, here probably an intensive prefix (see re-), + Late Latin pausare "to stop" (see pause (v.)). Related: Reposed; reposing.

repose

v.2

"put, place," mid-15c., from Latin repos-, stem of reponere "put back, set back, replace, restore; put away, lay out, stretch out," from re- "back, away" (see re-) + ponere "to put, place" (see position (n.)). Or perhaps [Klein] formed in Middle English from Old French poser, on model of disposen "dispose."

"rest," c.1500, from Middle French repos (11c.), back-formation from reposer (see repose (v.1)).

repose

noun

verb (used without object), re·posed, re·pos·ing.

verb (used with object), re·posed, re·pos·ing.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of repose

repose

verb (used with object), re·posed, re·pos·ing.

Origin of repose

re-pose

verb (used with or without object), re-posed, re-pos·ing.

Origin of re-pose

Examples from the Web for repose

repose

noun

verb

Word Origin for repose

verb (tr)

Word Origin for repose

repose

repose