repose

1
[ ri-pohz ]
See synonyms for: reposere-posedre-posingreposed on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the state of resting or being at rest; sleep.

  2. peace; tranquility; calm: rare moments of utter repose.

  1. dignified calmness, as of manner; composure.

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

verb (used without object),re·posed, re·pos·ing.
  1. to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.

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

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

  2. to lie or rest on something.

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

verb (used with object),re·posed, re·pos·ing.
  1. to lay at rest; rest; refresh by rest (often used reflexively).

Origin of repose

1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb reposen, from Middle French reposer, Old French, from Late Latin repausāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + Late Latin pausāre “to rest” (derivative of Latin pausa pause)

Other words from repose

  • re·pos·ed·ly [ri-poh-zid-lee], /rɪˈpoʊ zɪd li/, adverb
  • re·pos·ed·ness, noun
  • re·pos·er, noun

Words that may be confused with repose

Other definitions for repose (2 of 3)

repose2
[ ri-pohz ]

verb (used with object),re·posed, re·pos·ing.
  1. to put (confidence, trust, etc.) in a person or thing.

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

  1. Archaic. to deposit.

Origin of repose

2
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English reposen “to replace,” influenced by Latin reposuisse “to have put back,” perfect infinitive of repōnere; see re-, pose1

Other definitions for re-pose (3 of 3)

re-pose
[ ree-pohz ]

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

Origin of re-pose

3

Words that may be confused with re-pose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use repose in a sentence

  • Also our six-shooters reposed in their scabbards, the four belts hooked over the horn of MacRae's saddle.

    Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
  • For a time the entire railway system in the north was under his p. 14control, and the confidence reposed in him was unbounded.

  • Kerry crossed the room, laid his oilskin and cane upon a chair, and from the shelf where it reposed took a squat volume.

    Dope | Sax Rohmer
  • Then the Englishman placed the revolver in his belt and bowed low before the woman who reposed such confidence in him.

    The Red Year | Louis Tracy
  • On the right and on the left reposed, each in a massy sarcophagus, the departed kings and queens of Spain.

British Dictionary definitions for repose (1 of 2)

repose1

/ (rɪˈpəʊz) /


noun
  1. a state of quiet restfulness; peace or tranquillity

  2. dignified calmness of manner; composure

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

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

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

Origin of repose

1
C15: from Old French reposer, from Late Latin repausāre from re- + pausāre to stop; see pause

Derived forms of repose

  • reposal, noun
  • reposer, noun
  • reposeful, adjective
  • reposefully, adverb
  • reposefulness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for repose (2 of 2)

repose2

/ (rɪˈpəʊz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to put (trust or confidence) in a person or thing

  2. to place or put (an object) somewhere

Origin of repose

2
C15: from Latin repōnere to store up, from re- + pōnere to put

Derived forms of repose

  • reposal, noun

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