repose

¹

[ ri-pohz ]

noun

1. the state of resting or being at rest; sleep.
2. peace; tranquility; calm:

   rare moments of utter repose.

3. dignified calmness, as of manner; composure.
4. absence of movement, animation, etc.:

   When in repose, her face recalls the Mona Lisa.

verb (used without object)

, re·posed, re·pos·ing.

1. to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.
2. to lie dead:

   His body will repose in the chapel for two days.

3. to be peacefully calm and quiet:

   The sea reposed under the tropical sun.

4. to lie or rest on something.
5. Archaic. to depend or rely on a person or thing.

verb (used with object)

, re·posed, re·pos·ing.

1. to lay at rest; rest; refresh by rest (often used reflexively).

repose

²

[ ri-pohz ]

verb (used with object)

, re·posed, re·pos·ing.

1. to put (confidence, trust, etc.) in a person or thing.
2. to put under the authority or at the disposal of a person.
3. Archaic. to deposit.

repose

¹

/ rɪˈpəʊz /

noun

1. a state of quiet restfulness; peace or tranquillity
2. dignified calmness of manner; composure

verb

1. to place (oneself or one's body) in a state of quiet relaxation; lie or lay down at rest
2. intr to lie when dead, as in the grave
3. formal.
   intr; foll by on, in, etc to take support (from) or be based (on)

   your plan reposes on a fallacy

repose

²

/ rɪˈpəʊz /

verb

1. to put (trust or confidence) in a person or thing
2. to place or put (an object) somewhere

Derived Forms

• reˈposal, noun
• reˈposefully, adverb
• reˈposefulness, noun
• reˈposeful, adjective
• reˈposer, noun
• reˈposal, noun

Other Words From

• re·pos·ed·ly [ri-, poh, -zid-lee], adverb
• re·pos·ed·ness noun
• re·pos·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of repose¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb reposen, from Middle French reposer, Old French, from Late Latin repausāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + Late Latin pausāre “to rest” (derivative of Latin pausa pause )

Origin of repose²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English reposen “to replace,” influenced by Latin reposuisse “to have put back,” perfect infinitive of repōnere; re-, pose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of repose¹

C15: from Old French reposer , from Late Latin repausāre from re- + pausāre to stop; see pause

Origin of repose²

C15: from Latin repōnere to store up, from re- + pōnere to put

Example Sentences

To be sure, there are moments of relative repose.

From Los Angeles Times

The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual, and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.

From Slate

Seeing our friends and neighbors stretched out in various states of repose each day or catching sight of them launching their sailboat for a mid-morning outing on the water increases our vulnerability to catching their “virus.”

From Salon

It was the best Abel had ever done, a perfect representation of stupefied repose.

From Literature

The space feels somewhere between a crypt and a cathedral, featuring paintings and bronze sculptures of reclining Black bodies, spread out in repose or entombed like corpses, that appear to glow from within.

From New York Times

Related Words

• inactivity
• stillness