English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈpɛnt/
• Rhymes: -ɛnt

Verb

repent ‎(third-person singular simple present repents, present participle repenting, simple past and past participle repented)

1. (intransitive) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Jonah 3:10:

     And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

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

   "... Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {15} And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)

   "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. {39} For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. {40} And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2:38-40)

   If you're a true Muslim, you should repent to Allah.‎

   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Luke 13:3:

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

3. (transitive) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
4. (transitive) To be sorry for, to regret.

   "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!  {2} It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  {3} ¶ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. {4} And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him." (Luke 17:1-4)

   I repent my sins.‎

5. (archaic, transitive) To cause to have sorrow or regret.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, Bk.VII:

     at that time she wolde nat, she seyde, for she was syke and myght nat ryde. "That me repentith," seyde the kynge […].

   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Genesis 6:6:

     And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

6. (obsolete, reflexive) To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.

Synonyms

• afterthink
• regret

Derived terms

• marry in haste, repent at leisure

Related terms

• penance
• repentance
• repentant
• penitence
• penitent
• unrepentable

Translations

Etymology 2

From Latin rēpō ‎(“I creep”).

Adjective

repent

1. (chiefly botany) Creeping along the ground.

Synonyms

• reptant

References

• repent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• repent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

French

Verb

repent

1. third-person singular present indicative of repentir

Latin

Verb

rēpent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of rēpō