repent Hear it!

repent¹ Definition

re·pent (ri pent′)

intransitive verb

  1. to feel sorry or self-reproachful for what one has done or failed to do; be conscience-stricken or contrite: often with of
  2. to feel such regret or dissatisfaction over some past action, intention, etc. as to change one's mind about: often with of to repent of one's generosity
  3. to feel so contrite over one's sins as to change, or decide to change, one's ways; be penitent

Etymology: ME repenten < OFr repentir < VL repoenitere < L re-, again + poenitere, for paenitere: see penitent

transitive verb

  1. to feel sorry, contrite, or self-reproachful over (an error, sin, etc.)
  2. to feel such regret or dissatisfaction over as to change one's mind about to repent one's kindness

repent¹ Related Forms
re·pent′er noun
repent² Definition

re·pent (rē′pənt)

adjective

Biol. creeping or crawling

Etymology: L repens, prp. of repere, to creep: see reptile

repent Synonyms

repent

v.

be sorry, be penitent, lament, atone; see apologize, regret 1.

repent Usage Examples

Object

  • sinner: What is the definition, then, that the Lord gives of a repenting sinner?
  • mean: To repent means to turn from one direction in life to another.
  • sin: Together we repent the sin of perpetuating our division.

Preposition: at

  • leisure: The court gave the argument short shrift, leaving the tenant to repent at leisure his having acted in haste.

Modifies a noun

  • ye: I tell you Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish ' .

Modifying Another Word

  • sincerely: We shall truly and sincerely repent and turn from our sin, thanking Jesus that He is our Savior.
  • bitterly: I still bitterly repent the time I spent in Satan's service.
  • truly: They are only likely to stop if they have truly repented of the action.
  • genuinely: So he is not referring to people who, when they sin, genuinely repent.
  • never: I should never repent of giving myself wholly to you.
  • therefore: Remember, O thou man, How thou art dead and gone, And I did what I can: Therefore repent!

Used with why or when

  • when: Bitterly did he blame himself and repent when repentance was of no avail.

Used with adjective complement

  • do: DYING MAN - Yes, my friend, I do repent.

Preposition: in

  • dust: So I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes.
  • jail: All they do is demand money from us or force us to repent in jail!

Preposition: of

  • sin: We must repent of sin, or we cannot receive the blessings of salvation.
  • evil: Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

Preposition: for

  • sin: All of us, members of ROCOR like anyone else, need to repent for sins.

Present participle complement

  • have: She looked so sweetly pretty that I repented having outraged her so scandalously.
repent Quotes

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

—Bible (NewTestament)

What a finething capital punishment is! Dead mennever repent; dead men never bring awkward stories to light. Ah, it's a finething for thetrade! Five of 'emstrung up ina row; and none left to play booty, or turn white-livered!

—Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam

It doth repent me: words are quick and vain: Grief for a while is blind, and so was mine. I wish no living thing to suffer pain.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

   Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure: Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.

—Congreve,William

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

—Bible (Old Testament)

   Some by experience find those words mis-placed: At leisure married, they repent in haste.

—Congreve,William

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying,The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

—Bible (NewTestament)