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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Repent, v. Also: ra-, rea- and -pentt. [ME and e.m.E. repente(n, also repentie(n (both c1290), F. repentir (11th c. in OED) f. re- and Romanic *penitire, L. pœnitēre.]

1. reflex. To repent of (something done); to feel contrition or regret for (of) something done.Also const. clause compl.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 882.
God hym lent Lynt & space hyme to repent ?1438 Alex. ii 6632.
He sall repent him, or than I! 1456 Hay II 106/18.
Repent thé nocht quhen it may nocht be wele amendit a1500 Henr. Fab. 536.
Bot … God … Smytis rycht sair … Adulteraris that list thame not repent a1570-86 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 14/67. Maitl. F. 341/4.
Repent thé, man(2) 1375 Barb. xix 429.
Thai suld thaim mak For to repent thaim of thar play a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 651.
Al That mysdone thaim has … wil repent thaim of thare myse a1450 Fifteen Ois 6. 1456 Hay I 275/30.
Of the quhilk efterwart he repentit him 1566–7 Reg. Privy S. V ii 274/1.
That he sall nowthir repent him of his service past nor yit [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 129/1.
He repentis him of his sin(3) 1375 Barb. ix 474.
Him sar repent sall he That he the king contraryit ay ?1438 Alex. ii 2293.
I me repent That I sa largely myne intent Hes said

2. intr. To feel repentence, compunction or regret (for, of a deed, omission, etc.); to express contrition for sin. Chiefly without const.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 228.
Of his synnis repentyng … With taknis of compuncion c1475 Wall. vii 1062.
Ar ye wer men, rapentis for sa small? c1490 Irland Asl. MS 70/4.
And of all I repent and confesis me(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 702.
For to repent my mynd can not concluid c1475 Wall. i 72.
Quhar throuch Scotland rapentyt syne full sar a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1356 (Asl.).
And fra the splene repent To deidlie syn quhar thow has gevin consent c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 15/8.
I cry thé marcy and laser to repent 1535 Stewart 16902.
ȝouthheid … all to lait repentand cryis ho 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4824.
Efterwart ȝe sall repent Quhen ȝe ar maid Johne Thomsounis man a1568 Bann. MS 281a/15.
Repent in tyme, devoyd thé of this laid c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxv 41.
Quha can onfenȝeitlie repent? 1611 Melvill in DreamFugitive Poetry II ii 2/5.
Thir novelties will mak us lait repent 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 482.
If he repentet, that the bulk of his boddie sould be burried … in the Grayfeiris [sic in pr.]

b. In p.p.: Having repented; being contrite.
The earliest instance of this usage in ME is in a translation from French (a1450), and may reflect French usage (cf. mod. F. (17th c.) repenti adj., in this sense. 1375 Barb. xix 213.
Schrywyn and als repentit [C. repentand] weill … As gud Crystyn the gast he gave

c. To change one's mind about a past action because of subsequent doubt as to its advisability. 15.. Dum Wyf 27.
He wedit hir to his wyfe Bot now he sair repentes [MS repententes, with -ent- deleted] 1567 G. Ball. 42.
Thow [sc. God] can not lyke ane man repent, To change thy purpois or intent

3. tr. To repent (sin or wrongdoing); to feel contrition for. c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 79. (see Unrepentit p.p.)
Rapentyt c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 15/4 (B).
Befoir thy bludy figor dolorus I repent my synnys with humill hart contreit 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 17.
I … repentis the samyn [sc. idolatry, etc.] fra the bodowme of my hart 1567 G. Ball. 17.
All thame that ar in heuines Repentand sair thair sinfulnes

4. To regard (an action, event, etc.) with sorrow or regret; to be sorry for.Also const. clause object.(1) 1456 Hay I 287/13.
For wordis may be said … in lichtnes, that sone efter he may repent a1500 Henr. Prayer 86.
For we repent all tyme mispent forthocht a1500 Seven S. 722. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 261.
Mr. Robert said he suld caus the vther repent his speiking 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 251.
Weill, madin, … ȝe sall repent itt fra ȝoure hairt 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 30.
He ansuerit he repentit it and sowld mend for it 16.. Hist. Kennedy 29.
And he byd be that deid, he suld repent the same, do for him quha lykitt(2) 1559 Knox VI 93. Scott xx 61.
That some will reapent that thei saw Edinburgh att this voyage 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii 103. Pitsc. II 16/6.
Sa Paslay may repent That I thé maid of malesounis of foik