Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Change to a better frame of mind; repentance.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun rare Wisdom derived from severe experience; hence, repentance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
wisdom fromexperience - noun
repentance - noun recognition of a past mistake and the desire to improve in the future
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The medieval legislation, both ecclesiastical and secular, clearly distinguished between the punishment to be inflicted for the crime of apostasy and the means of instruction to be used in order to bring about the resipiscence of the apostate.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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In fact the long list of heresiarchs contains the name of only one who came to resipiscence: Berengarius.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913
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Endless stories could be keyed or geared on to different parts of the main legend: there might be a Tristan-saga, a Palomides-saga, a Gawain-saga, episodes of Balin or of Beaumains, incidents of the fate of the damsel of Astolat or the resipiscence of Geraint.
The Flourishing of Romance and the Rise of Allegory (Periods of European Literature, vol. II) George Saintsbury 1889
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It was the object of the Inquisition that such people should not indeed be spared, but should not perish without a trial and without opportunity of resipiscence, so that they might save their souls if not their lives.
Lectures on Modern history John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton 1868
reesetee commented on the word resipiscence
Recognition of past mistakes and desire to do better in future. "It is derived from Latin resipiscere which means 'to recover one's senses,' and is a useful term for any member of the business community to remember." (From Foyle's Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words, by Christopher Foyle.)
October 3, 2007
palooka commented on the word resipiscence
Beautiful word and fun to say. I'd love to see it used more often.
October 4, 2007
reesetee commented on the word resipiscence
You're right, palooka. I feel resipiscence about not having used this word more often. ;-)
October 4, 2007