repentance

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe action of repenting, an instance of it, atonement.

   Christine Cooper: It's not wrong to sin. Christ came into this world for the sinners. DCI Tom Barnaby: To call people to repentance, Mrs Cooper.

   1999 September 12, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Dead Man's Eleven”, in Midsomer Murders

2. countableuncountableThe condition of being repentant, penitent, a state of feeling regret or remorse for having done wrong.

   1678, Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, second period God hath denied me repentance. His words gives me no encouragement to believe.

   1 more example

   And here, shipmates, is true and faithful repentance; not clamorous for pardon, but grateful for punishment.

   1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 6

In a sentence

Christine Cooper: It's not wrong to sin. Christ came into this world for the sinners. DCI Tom Barnaby: To call people to repentance, Mrs Cooper.

1999 September 12, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Dead Man's Eleven”, in Midsomer Murders

Where it comes from

1. Old Frenchrepentance
2. Middle Englishrepentance, repentaunce
3. Englishrepentance

First attested circa 14th century, from Middle English repentance, repentaunce, from Old French repentance. More at repent. By surface analysis, repent + -ance.