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Repent vs Compunction - What's the difference?

repent | compunction |

As a verb repent

is to feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".

As an adjective repent

is creeping along the ground.

As a noun compunction is

a pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting.

repent

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) repentir, from (re-) + a late derivative of (etyl) , alteration of (etyl) paenitere.

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
  • *
  • *: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.
  • To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
  • :
  • *
  • *:I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish.
  • (label) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
  • (label) To be sorry for, to regret.
  • :
  • To cause to have sorrow or regret.
  • *, Bk.VII:
  • *:at that time she wolde nat, she seyde, for she was syke and myght nat ryde. "That me repentith ," seyde the kynge.
  • *
  • *:And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
  • To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
  • Synonyms
    * (l) * (l)
    Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Adjective

  • (chiefly, botany) Creeping along the ground.
  • Synonyms
    * reptant

    References

    * * ----

    compunction

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pricking of conscience or a feeling of regret, especially one which is slight or fleeting.
  • * :
  • [H]e would have had no compunction whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city.
  • * 1897 , , Dracula , ch. 3:
  • I felt no compunction in doing so, for under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I could.
  • * 1920 , , Women in Love , ch. 8:
  • But he felt, later, a little compunction . He had been violent, cruel with poor Hermione. He wanted to recompense her, to make it up.
  • * 2003 February 16, Blaine Greteman, " No Peace Dividend," Time :
  • As for average U.S. consumers, they've shown little compunction about buying diamonds that fund bloody militias in Africa.

    Synonyms

    * regret, remorse, qualm * See also

    See also

    * contrition * penitence, penance * guilt