remorse
pronunciation
How to pronounce remorse in British English:
UK [rɪˈmɔ:s]
How to pronounce remorse in American English:
US [rɪˈmɔrs]
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- Noun:
- a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
Word Origin
- remorse
- remorse: [14] Remorse etymologically denotes the ‘biting’ of conscience. The word comes ultimately from medieval Latin remorsus ‘torment’, a derivative of Latin remordēre ‘bite back’, hence ‘torrnent’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix re- ‘back, again’ and mordēre ‘bite’ (source of English morsel). The noun was used in the expression remorsus conscientiae ‘torment of conscience’, which passed into Old French as remors de conscience. English adopted this at the end of the 14th century, and by the beginning of the 15th century remorse was being used on its own in the same sense.=> morsel
- remorse (n.)
- late 14c., from Old French remors (Modern French remords), from Medieval Latin remorsum, noun use of neuter past participle of Latin remordere "to vex, disturb," literally "to bite back," from re- "back" (see re-) + mordere "to bite" (see mordant). The sense evolution was via the Medieval Latin phrase remorsus conscientiæ (translated into Middle English as ayenbite of inwit). Middle English also had a verb, remord "to strike with remorse, touch with compassion, prick one's conscience."
Example
- 1. In regarding herself as a mother , her remorse festers unchecked .
- 2. On the contrary , he hints at remorse over his earlier conciliation .
- 3. In past statements , conocophillips has expressed its remorse about the incident .
- 4. One of the things I found in my research is that when you confront people with their lies , they very rarely display remorse .
- 5. But no important figure in the bush administration , or among that administration 's political allies , has expressed remorse for breaking the law .