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pentire

to repent

verb pen-TEE-reh Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: From Latin paenitēre (to cause regret).

Usage Note

Pentire is almost always used as the reflexive pentirsi (to repent, to regret): mi pento (I repent), si è pentito (he regretted it). It takes essere as the auxiliary in compound tenses. The bare non-reflexive form is rare. Common in religious contexts (pentirsi dei peccati) and everyday speech (mi sono pentito di quella scelta = I regretted that choice).

Examples

"Si è pentito di quella decisione."

Natural Translation

He regretted that decision.

Literal Translation

He-is repented of that decision.

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