Remorse definition

First attested circa 14th century, from Old French remors, from Middle Latin remorsum, from Latin remordere "to torment, vex," literally "to bite back," from re- + mordere, "to bite."

A feeling of regret or sadness for doing wrong or sinning.
- 1897, Oscar Wilde, "De Profundis,"
  
  Failure, disgrace, poverty, sorrow, despair, suffering, tears even, the broken words that come from lips in pain, remorse that makes one walk on thorns, conscience that condemns . . . —all these were things of which I was afraid.
Sorrow; pity; compassion.
- 1597, William Shakespeare, King John, act 4, sc. 3,
  
  This is the bloodiest shame,
  
  The wildest savagery, the vilest stroke,
  
  That ever wall-eyed wrath or staring rage
  
  Presented to the tears of soft remorse.

compunction, contrition, penitence, repentance, self-reproach