repent
v.v. to feel very sorry for something bad you did and decide to change your behavior for the better.
v. to feel sincere regret or remorse for one's past actions or sins, typically accompanied by a commitment to moral amendment.
He decided to repent for his past mistakes.
After years of dishonest business practices, the executive sought to repent by donating his fortune to charity.
The protagonist's journey is defined by a struggle to truly repent, as he discovers that seeking forgiveness from others is distinct from finding peace within himself.
From Middle English repenten, from Old French repentir, from Vulgar Latin *repaenitīre, from Late Latin paenitīre, from Classical Latin paenitēre. Compare Modern French repentir.
From Latin rēpēns, present participle of rēpō (“I creep”).
Often used with the preposition 'of' or 'for' ('to repent of one's sins').
He repented his sins to the priest.He repented of his sins.While sometimes used transitively, 'repent' most naturally takes the preposition 'of' when referring to the specific actions being regretted.