remorse

The story

1. Latin · derived fromremordeō“to torment, vex”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromremorsus
3. Old French · derived fromremors
4. Middle English · inherited fromremors
5. English todayremorse

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.

Words from the same roots