rə̇ˈmȯ(ə)rs, rēˈ, -ȯ(ə)s noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English remors, remorse, from Middle French remors, from Medieval Latin remorsus, from Latin, act of biting again, from remorsus, past participle of remordēre to bite again, vex, from re- + mordēre to bite — more at smart
1.
a. : a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt for past wrongs (as injuries done to others) : self-reproach
knew remorse for sermon times spent in daydreams — Rose Macaulay
felt a twinge of remorse for having been so brusque
b. : an attack of remorse
2. obsolete : sympathetic sorrow : compassion
3. obsolete : a lessening or break in a process or action
4. obsolete : a solemn obligation
Synonyms: see penitence