repine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareLiterary
Quick answer
What does “repine” mean?
To express discontent or sorrow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To express discontent or sorrow; to complain or fret.
Often implies a lingering, mournful complaint, especially about one's circumstances or fate, with a poetic or reflective tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with British literary traditions, but equally rare in both dialects.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects; primarily encountered in classical literature or formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “repine” in a Sentence
intransitive with 'at' (e.g., repine at something)intransitive with 'over' (e.g., repine over something)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “repine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She did not repine at her misfortune.
- They repined over the loss of their ancestral home.
American English
- He refused to repine about his financial struggles.
- She often repines at the injustices she witnesses.
adverb
British English
- He spoke repiningly of his past failures.
- She gazed repiningly at the abandoned garden.
American English
- They worked repiningly under the strict new regulations.
- He answered repiningly when asked about his plans.
adjective
British English
- Her repining attitude was evident in her letters.
- The repining crowd murmured their dissent quietly.
American English
- His repining comments did not improve the mood.
- A repining tone pervaded his entire speech.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not typical in business contexts due to its formal tone.
Academic
Occasionally found in literary criticism, historical texts, or poetry analysis.
Everyday
Not common in everyday conversation; considered formal or old-fashioned.
Technical
No specific technical usage; irrelevant in most technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “repine”
- Using it transitively (e.g., 'He repined his fate' instead of 'He repined at his fate').
- Overusing in modern contexts where simpler synonyms like 'complain' are more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is rare and mostly used in formal or literary contexts, not in everyday speech.
No, it is typically intransitive and requires prepositions like 'at' or 'over' to connect to the object of discontent.
From Middle English, combining 're-' (expressing intensive force) and 'pine' (from Old English 'pīnian', meaning to suffer or yearn), thus meaning to grieve or complain intensely.
'Repine' has a more poetic, mournful, and passive connotation, often implying silent or lingering sorrow, whereas 'complain' is more general, active, and common in usage.
Repine is usually literary in register.
Repine: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈpaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈpaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to repine at one's lot”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 're-pine' as pining again—repeatedly expressing sadness or longing, like complaining over and over.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISSATISFACTION IS A BURDEN or COMPLAINT IS A SONG OF SORROW.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'repine'?