Repentance is the act or process of feeling remorse or contrition for past actions and choosing to change one’s behavior. It carries moral or religious weight, often implying a sincere acknowledgment of fault and a commitment to reform. In broader use, it denotes a recognizing and turning away from wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness or self-improvement.
"Her repentance after the argument led to heartfelt apologies and renewed trust."
"In many traditions, repentance is a prerequisite for forgiveness and moral renewal."
"The speaker urged repentance, urging the crowd to reflect on their choices and seek better paths."
"He spoke of repentance as not just regret, but a sustained commitment to change."
Repentance comes from the Old French repentance (14th century), from repenter ‘to feel remorse, to change one’s mind,’ itself from Latin poenitentia, from poenire ‘to atone, feel compunction,’ from poena ‘punishment.’ The root elements are re- ‘again’ + pentre ‘to regret’ (from Latin poenire). Over time, the sense broadened from religious atonement to include general moral regret and the act of turning away from wrongdoing. In Middle English, repentance carried strong moral and spiritual connotations tied to contrition before God; in modern usage, it can apply to personal or ethical reform beyond religious contexts. First known written uses appear in the 14th century, aligning with theological treatises and ecclesiastical writings that emphasize repentance as a pathway to forgiveness and moral transformation. The term has since become an everyday noun describing the emotional and behavioral shift resulting from recognizing past faults and choosing to change.
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Words that rhyme with "Repentance"
-nce sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as rɪ-PEHN-təns (US) or rɪ-PEN-təns (UK/AU). The primary stress sits on the second syllable: re-PEN-tance. Start with /r/ plus a relaxed schwa-like vowel if connecting quickly, then a clear /p/ followed by /ɛn/ or /eɪ/ depending on accent, and end with /təns/. For an audio reference, compare with standard dictionaries' pronunciations in Cambridge or Oxford.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing the stress, saying re-PEN-tance or re-pen-TANCE. (2) Coalescing /p/ and /ɛn/ poorly, turning /pɛn/ into a lighter /pən/ or a tense /pɛn/ without the clear /t/ onset. Another trap is blending /t/ with the following /ə/ so it sounds like /təns/ becomes /tən s/. Correct by isolating the /p/ with a strong /t/ release and keeping a distinct /ɛ/ or /eɪ/ vowel in the second syllable.
US: rɪˈpɛn(t)əns with clear /t/ and rhotic r. UK: rɪˈpen(t)səns, sometimes a lighter /t/ and a non-rhotic r? actually UK is non-rhotic; you may hear slight schwa in second syllable and a more clipped final /ns/. AU: rɪˈpen(t)əns; often a flatter intonation, with non-rhotic r and strong dental or alveolar plosion. Primary stress remains on the second syllable in all three, but vowel quality (pen-/pɛnt/ vs. peɪnt) can shift slightly.
Key challenges include the mid syllable vowel /ɛ/ or /e/ quality in stressed position and the /p/–/t/ sequence, which demands a clear stop consonant release. Additionally, the final -ance suffix yields a nasal + schwa + n s cluster that can blur in rapid speech. The /n(ə)ns/ ending may be less distinct in casual speech. Practice by isolating the stressed syllable and ensuring a crisp /t/ release before the /əns/.
In repentance, the primary influence on articulation is the second syllable stressed with a clear /p/ and /ɛn/ sequence, while the suffix -ance adds a final /əns/. The root rep- portion sets up the initial consonant cluster and helps you prepare the tongue and lips for the strong /p/ following the first syllable. Focus on the transition from /p/ to /ɛn/ and then the /təns/ to minimize slurring.
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