remorse
noun
- distressing emotion experienced by an individual who regrets actions which they have done in the past that they deem to be shameful, hurtful, or wrong
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈmɔː(ɹ)s/ / /ɹɪˈmɔɹs/
noun
Etymology: First attested circa 14th century as Middle English remors, from Old French remors, from Medieval Latin remorsus, from Latin remordeō (“to torment, vex”, literally “to bite back”), from re- + mordeō (“to bite”). More at remord.
- A feeling of regret or sadness for doing wrong or sinning.
“In criminal proceedings, empirical studies have shown that remorse plays an important role in observers’ judgments of defendants.”
“Failure, disgrace, poverty, sorrow, despair, suffering, tears even, the broken words that come from lips in pain, remorse that makes one walk on thorns, conscience that condemns . . . —all these were things of which I was afraid.”
- Sorrow; pity; compassion.
“This is the bloodiest shame, The wildest savagery, the vilest stroke, That ever wall-eyed wrath or staring rage Presented to the tears of soft remorse.”
verb
Etymology: First attested circa 14th century as Middle English remors, from Old French remors, from Medieval Latin remorsus, from Latin remordeō (“to torment, vex”, literally “to bite back”), from re- + mordeō (“to bite”). More at remord.
- To experience remorse or sorrow; to regret.
“And if we look abroad, to take a view of men as they are, we shall find that they remorse in one place, for doing or omitting that which others, in another place, think they merit by.”
“When they have accepted their advice and have some upleasant experience then they remorse.”