remorse

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

2. 2
   noun

   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.

3. 3
   verb

   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.

4. 4
   noun

   a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)

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.