repentance
noun/ɹɪˈpɛntəns/ · NZ /ˈɹɛpəntəns/
Etymology First attested circa 14th century, from Middle English repentance, repentaunce, from Old French repentance. More at repent. By surface analysis, repent + -ance.
1
The action of repenting, an instance of it, atonement.
- Christine Cooper: It's not wrong to sin. Christ came into this world for the sinners.1999 September 12, Anthony Horowitz & al., "Dead Man's Eleven", Midsomer Murders
2
The condition of being repentant, penitent, a state of feeling regret or remorse for having done wrong.
- 1678, Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, second period God hath denied me repentance. His words gives me no encouragement to believe.
- And here, shipmates, is true and faithful repentance; not clamorous for pardon, but grateful for punishment.1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 6:
- Synonyms
- compunction, contrition, penitence, remorse
- Derived terms
- herb of repentance, irrepentance, nonrepentance, Repentance Creek, right of repentance, stool of repentance, unrepentance
- Related terms
- repent, repentant, repentantly, repented, repenting