Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-PENT', v.i. [Fr. repentir; It. pentire, pentirsi; Sp. arrepentirse; L. re and pœniteo, from pœna, pain, Gr. ποινη. See Pain.]

1. To feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken; as, to repent that we have lost much time in idleness or sensual pleasure; to repent that we have injured or wounded the feelings of a friend. A person repents only of what he himself has done or said.
2. To express sorrow for something past. Enobarbus did before thy face repent. – Shak.
3. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct. Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return. – Exod. xiii.
4. Applied to the Supreme Being, to change the course of providential dealings. – Gen. vi. Ps. cvi.
5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. – Luke xiii. Acts iii.