remorse English · revision 932

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹɪˈmɔː(ɹ)s/, /ɹɪˈmɔɹs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|remors]], [[bor|fro|remors]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-med|remorsum|t=a biting back]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from the past participle of [[la|remordēre|t=to torment, vex]], literally “to bite again”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|la|re-|mordēre|t1=again, back|t2=to bite]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the phrase ''remorse of conscience'', the pain of a guilty conscience (c. 1374),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and on its own a feeling of deep regret for a wrong committed (about 1385).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense developed through the Medieval Latin phrase ''remorsus conscientiae'', Chaucer's ''remors of conscience'', which was also rendered in Middle English as ''ayenbite of inwit'' “again-bite of the inner wit”.^(Etymonline) In the 16th century ''remorse'' could also mean pity or compassion, a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1374 – ''remorse of conscience''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1385 – deep regret for a wrong.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1547 – pity, compassion (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1591 – ''remorseful''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; moral anguish arising from a sense of guilt; [[contrition]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Pity; [[compassion]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[remorseless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mordant]]

+ * [[morsel]]

+ * [[remorseful]]

+ * [[regret]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}