repine
UK: rɪˈpaɪn | US: rɪˈpaɪn
vi. to feel or express discontent or longing; fret
vi. to complain in a melancholy or passive way
The word "repine" combines the prefix "re-" (indicating repetition or intensity) with the verb "pine" (from Old English pīnian, meaning "to suffer or long for"). "Pine" itself traces back to Proto-Germanic painon ("to torment"), reflecting a sense of lingering sorrow. Over time, "repine" evolved to describe persistent discontent or passive complaint, emphasizing emotional stagnation rather than active protest.
She did not repine over lost opportunities but focused on the future.
The old man would often repine about the changes in his village.
It is useless to repine when action could solve the problem.
He repined in solitude, missing his family dearly.
Despite hardships, she refused to repine and maintained her optimism.