▪ I. repenting, vbl. n.
(rɪˈpɛntɪŋ)
[f. repent v. + -ing1.]
The action of the vb.; repentance.
| c 1300 Cursor M. 4958 Don yee haue þe sin yee wate, Your repenting es now to late. c 1315 Shoreham i. 1087 Two þynges her-wyþ-ynne beþ, For-ȝefþe, and repentynge. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 156 Thoo that hadde doon vnkyndenesse..humblely songe hire repentynge. 1530 Palsgr. 262/1 Repentyng, regret, repentence. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 76 Wooing, wedding, & repenting, is as a Scotch jigge, a measure, and a cinque-pace. c 1655 Milton Sonn., To C. Skinner 6 Deep thoughts..to drench In mirth, that after no repenting drawes. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 444 To talk of my repenting, alas! And with that he fetch'd a deep Sigh. 1851 Trench Poems 93 Repentings for her quick and angry mood. |
b. attrib., esp. repenting stool, the stool of repentance (see repentance 2).
| 1567 in 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 643/2 He sall..present him self vpon the Repenting stuill in the parochiall Kyrk of Anstruthair in Repenting maneir. 1721 Ramsay Lucky Spence vii, Whinging fools, That's frighted for repenting-stools. a 1722 Pennecuik Collect. Scots Poems (1787) 34 They gave the surplice to the English prelates, And their repenting stools to Scottish zealots. |
▪ II. repenting, ppl. a.
(rɪˈpɛntɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That repents.
| 1533 Frith Answ. More Wks. (1829) 177 Christ's blood (which must be received with a repenting heart thro' faith). 1618 G. Strode Anat. Mortalitie 145 Vnto the repenting person hee giueth a soft heart. 1666 Dryden Ann. Mirab. cxcviii, Repenting England..To Philip's manes did an offering bring. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 7 Like a true repenting Prodigal. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam v. v, Tears of repenting joy, which fast intruded, Fell fast. |
Hence reˈpentingly adv.
| 1611 Cotgr., Repentivement,..repentingly, with repentance. 1642 S. Ashe Best Refuge 54 We must repentingly returne unto the Lord. a 1774 Goldsm. Hist. Greece I. 134 There were many useful citizens whom they had..sent into banishment, and these they now repentingly wished to restore. 1893 Daily News 8 May 5/5 Those who..repentingly returned to the bosom of the party. |