Thayer-3338

μεταμελομαι; imperfect μετεμελομην; passive, 1 aorist μετεμεληθην; 1 future μεταμεληθησομαι; (from μελομαι, middle of μελω); from Thucydides down; a deponent passive; properly, it is a care to one afterward, i.e. it repents one; to repent oneself: Mat_21:29; Mat_21:32; Mat_27:3; 2Co_7:8; Heb_7:21.

[SYNONYMS: μεταμελομαι, μετανοεω: The distinctions so often laid down between these words, to the effect that the former expresses a merely emotional change the latter a change of choice, the former has reference to particulars the latter to the entire life, the former signifies nothing but regret even though amounting to remorse, the latter that reversal of moral purpose known as repentance -- seem hardly to be sustained by usage. But that μετανοεω is the fuller and nobler term, expressive of moral action and issues, is indicated not only by its derivation, but by the greater frequency of its use, by the fact that it is often employed in the imperative (μεταμελομαι never), and by its construction with απο, εκ. (Trench, N. T. Synonyms, § lxix.)]