repentance
/rɪˈpɛnt(ə)ns
/noun [mass noun]
The action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse: each person who turns to God in genuine repentance and faith will be saved...
- There was an expression of extreme repentance, sorrow and guilt upon his open face.
- In the thirteenth century her character and role were significantly expanded to incorporate details of her life as a prostitute and her subsequent conversion and repentance.
- The ruling principle is that fear of sin precedes love of God, which leads to repentance (contrition).
Synonyms
remorse, contrition, contriteness, penitence, sorrow, sorrowfulness, regret, ruefulness, remorsefulness, pangs of conscience, prickings of conscience, shame, guilt, self-reproach, self-condemnation, compunction;
Christianity conversion
archaic rue
rare sorriness
