repose UK /ɹɪˈpəʊz/US /ɹəˈpoʊz/noun 16verb 26forms 6 noun16 •Temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; (countable) an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep.So forth she rode vvithout repose or rest, / Searching all lands and each remotest part, […] — 1590 •Of a natural phenomenon, especially the eruption of a volcano: the state of temporary cessation of activity; dormancy, quiescence.[…] Vesuvius was virtually in repose, and the slow changes in the heaped white cloud above the crater were only like those of a thunder cloud. — 1887 •The state of being peacefully inactive or relaxed, or being free from disturbances or worries; calmness, ease, peace, quietness.[T]he Felicity of this life, consisteth not in the repose of a mind satisfied. — 1651 •Calmness of the mind or temperament; composure.But lord! she goes with so blithe a repose, / And comes so shapely about you, / That ere you're aware, with a glance and an air, / She whisks your heart from out you. — 1815 •Of the face, a muscle, etc.: the state of being relaxed and not in tension.In repose the faces of the men were intelligent and dignified, those of the women ofttimes prepossessing. — 1913 •The state of lying still and unmoving; calmness, tranquillity; (countable) an instance of this.But o'er the tvvilight groves, and dusky caves, / Long-sounding isles, and intermingled graves, / Black Melancholy sits, and round her throvvs / A death-like silence, and a dread repose: […] — 1717 •Chiefly in the form point of repose, position of repose, etc.: absence of motion; equilibrium; (countable) a position where an object is not moving and at rest. •The arrangement of elements of an artwork, a building, etc., that is restful and soothing to a viewer; harmony.VVe are to take occasion as much as possibly vve can, […] to find the repose of vvhich vve speak, by the Light and by the Shadovv, vvhich naturally accompany solid Bodies. — 1695 •Of the Virgin Mary: death; also assumption into heaven. •The festival honouring the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven, celebrated on August 15. •The state of leaving something alone or untouched; (countable) an instance of this. •(no longer used) Relief or respite from something exhausting or unpleasant; (countable) an instance of this.O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, / My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see / Thy face, […] — 1667 •(no longer used) The technique of including in a painting an area or areas which are dark, indistinct, or soft in tone so that other areas are more prominent, or so that a viewer can rest they eyes when looking at them; (countable) such an area of a painting. •(no longer used) Confidence, faith, or trust in something. •(no longer used) A piece of furniture on which one can rest, especially a couch or sofa.[S]he lay expecting her coming Lover, on a repose of rich Embroidery of Gold on blevv Sattin, […] — 1685 •(no longer used) A place of rest.[W]orst is my Port, / My harbour and my ultimate repose, / The end I vvould attain, my final good. — 1671 verb26 •To lean or recline, sit down, or lie down to rest; to rest.If you be pleas'd, retire into my Cell, / And there repose, a turne or tvvo, […] — 1610 •To cease activity to rest or recover; also, to have a period free from activity or disturbance.From the Leila and Majnun of Nizami. […] Thou wert agitated like the sand of the desert; but now thou reposest as the water of the lake. — 1817 •To place (confidence, faith, or trust) in someone or something.Now woorthy Tamburlaine, haue I repos'd, / In thy approoued Fortunes all my hope, / VVhat thinkst thou man, shal come of our attempts? — 1587 •Followed by on or upon: of a thing: to lie or be physically positioned on something, especially horizontally; to rest on or be supported by something.On the table reposed a nut cake which she had baked that morning . . . a particularly toothsome concoction iced with pink icing and adorned with walnuts. — 1909 •Followed by on or upon: of light, a look, etc.: to fall or rest (and often remain for a while) on something; to alight, to dwell.[T]he grate did then unclose, / And on that reverend form the moonlight did repose. — 1817 •Followed by in: to entrust (duty, power, etc.) in someone; to confide.His greatest defect was the facility with which he reposed the cares of state on favorites, not always the most deserving. — 1838 •Of a thing: to be in the management or power of a person or an organization. •Followed by on or upon: to be based on; to depend or rely on.The soul reposing on assur'd relief, / Feels herself happy amidst all her grief, / Forgets her labour as she toils along, / VVeeps tears of joy, and bursts into a song. — 1781 •(figurative) To die, to rest in peace.Simon reposed in the year 1287. •To put (a body part) back in its usual location; to reposition. •[with oneself] To pose (oneself or someone, or something) again. •(literary) To lie still and unmoving.[H]er dark and deepening eyes, / Which, as twin phantoms of one star that lies / O'er a dim well, move, though the star reposes, / Swam in our mute and liquid ecstasies, […] — 1817 •(no longer used) To lay (someone, or part of their body) down to rest.The Sea-god Glaucus […] Reposd his head vpon my faintfull knée: […] — 1589 •[with oneself] (no longer used) To rest (oneself), especially by going to sleep.Now may I repose me; Custance is mine owne. — 1552 •[with oneself] (no longer used) Followed by from or (obsolete) of: to cause (oneself) to take a rest from some activity; also, to allow (oneself) to recover from some activity.[A]lthough they seme as holidaymenne, to repose theymselfes from all corporall businesse: yet they dooe more good then the others, because they doe the thyng most chiefly requisite to be doen. — 1549 •(no longer used) To give (someone) rest; to refresh (someone) by giving rest.[H]ave ye chos'n this place / After the toyl of Battel to repose / Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find / To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n? — 1667 •(no longer used, rare) To give (someone) accommodation for the night. •[with oneself] (no longer used) To cause (oneself) to have faith in or rely on someone or something.That he consents, if VVarvvicke yeeld consent, / For on thy fortune I repose my selfe. — 1591 •(no longer used) To have faith in; to confide, to trust.I do desire thy vvorthy company, / Vpon vvhose faith and honor, I repose. — 1590 •(no longer used) To return (something) to a particular place; to put back, to replace. •(no longer used, rare) To restore (someone) to a position or rank formerly held; to reinstate. •(no longer used) To place (something), especially for safekeeping or storage; to deposit, to keep safe, to store.[…] Libraries, […] are as the Shrynes, vvhere all the Reliques of the ancient Saints, full of true vertue, and that vvithout delusion or imposture, are preserued, and reposed; […] — 1605 •(no longer used) To regard (something) as being embodied in another thing; to ascribe, to attribute.[A] certaine Bonzi, […] did giue them a certaine booke to kisse, and laid it on their heads, vvherein they reposed much holiness, and vvorshipped it as a god: […] — 1614 •(no longer used) To forcefully restrain (something); to repress, to suppress. •(no longer used, rare) To establish or institute (something); to found. •(no longer used, rare) To throw (something); to cast.[T]hee southwynd merciles eager / Three gallant vessels on rocks gnawne craggye reposed. — 1582 formsreposed · reposedst · reposing · reposes · reposeth · reposest