- repent (v.)
- late 13c., "to feel regret for sins or crimes," from Old French repentir (11c.), from re-, here probably an intensive prefix, + Vulgar Latin *penitire "to regret," from Latin poenitire "make sorry," from poena (see penal). The distinction between regret (q.v.) and repent is made in many modern languages, but the differentiation is not present in older periods. Related: Repented; repenting.