repent definition | Dictionary.com

re⋅pent

1 [ri-pent]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often fol. by of): He repented after his thoughtless act.

2.	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)

3.	to remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition: to repent one's injustice to another.

4.	to feel sorry for; regret: to repent an imprudent act.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME repenten < OF repentir, equiv. to re- re- + pentir to feel sorrow (< L paenitēre to regret, be sorry); see penitent

Related forms:

re⋅pent⋅er, noun

re⋅pent⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

re⋅pent

2 [ree-puh

nt, ri-pent]

–adjective

creeping.

Origin:
1660–70; < L rēpent- (s. of rēpēns), prp. of rēpere to crawl, creep; see -ent

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To repent

re·pent¹ (rĭ-pěnt')

v. re·pent·ed, re·pent·ing, re·pents

v. intr.

To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite.
To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it: repented of intemperate behavior.
To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.

v. tr.

To feel regret or self-reproach for: repent one's sins.
To cause to feel remorse or regret.

[Middle English repenten, from Old French repentir : re-, re- + pentir, to be sorry (from Vulgar Latin *paenitīre, from Latin paenitēre).]
re·pent'er n.

re·pent² (rē'pənt)

adj. Biology
Creeping along the ground; prostrate.

[Latin rēpēns, rēpent-, present participle of rēpere, to creep.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Repent

Re"pent\ (r?"p?nt), a. [L. repens, -entis, creeping, p. pr. of repere to creep.]

1. (Bot.) Prostrate and rooting; -- said of stems. --Gray.

2. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Reptant.

Repent

Re*pent"\ (r?-p?nt"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Repented; p. pr. & vb. n. Repenting.] [F. se repentir; L. pref. re- re- + poenitere to make repent, poenitet me it repents me, I repent. See Penitent.]

1. To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.

First she relents With pity; of that pity then repents. --Dryden.

2. To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.

Lest, peradventure, the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt. --Ex. xiii. 17.

3. (Theol.) To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.

Except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish. --Luke xii. 3.

Repent

Re*pent"\, v. t. 1. To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.

I do repent it from my very soul. --Shak.

2. To feel regret or sorrow; -- used reflexively.

My father has repented him ere now. --Dryden.

3. To cause to have sorrow or regret; -- used impersonally. [Archaic] "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth." --Gen. vi. 6.

Language Translation for : repent

Spanish: arrepentirse,

German: bereuen,

Japanese: 後悔する

More Translations »

repent

c.1290, "to feel regret for sins or crimes," from O.Fr. repentir (11c.), from re-, intensive prefix, + V.L. *penitire "to regret," from L. poenitire "make sorry," from poena (see pain). The distinction between regret (q.v.) and repent is made in many modern languages, but the differentiation is not present in older periods. Repentance is recorded from c.1300, from O.Fr. repentance (12c.).

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