resipiscence

/ ˌrɛsɪˈpɪsəns /

noun

1. literary,  acknowledgment that one has been mistaken

Other Word Forms

• resipiscent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of resipiscence¹

C16: from Late Latin resipiscentia , from resipiscere to recover one's senses, from Latin sapere to know

Example Sentences

Resipiscence, res-i-pis′ens, n. change to a better frame of mind.—adj.

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Tu n'es point de ceux-là que la honte de leur vilainie, ni le remords de leurs damnables intentions puisse attirer à aucune résipiscence et amendement.

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Endless stories could be keyed or geared on to different parts of the main legend: there might be a Tristan-saga, a Palomides-saga, a Gawain-saga, episodes of Balin or of Beaumains, incidents of the fate of the damsel of Astolat or the resipiscence of Geraint.

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It was the object of the Inquisition that such people should not indeed be spared, but should not perish without a trial and without opportunity of resipiscence, so that they might save their souls if not their lives.

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