Repeat (-pt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Repeating.]
Etymology: [F. répéter, L. repetere; pref. re- re- + petere to fall upon, attack. See Petition.]
1. To go over again; to attempt, do, make, or utter again; to iterate; to recite; as, to repeat an effort, an order, or a poem. "I will repeat our former communication." Robynson (More's Utopia). Not well conceived of God; who, though his power Creation could repeat, yet would be loth Us to abolish. Milton.
2. To make trial of again; to undergo or encounter again. [Obs.] Waller.
3. (Scots Law)
To repay or refund (an excess received). To repeat one's self, to do or say what one has already done or said. -- To repeat signals, to make the same signals again; specifically, to communicate, by repeating them, the signals shown at headquarters.
1 more senses
Syn. -- To reiterate; iterate; renew; recite; relate; rehearse; recapitulate. See Reiterate.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Repeat (r-pt), n.
1. The act of repeating; repetition.
2. That which is repeated; as, the repeat of a pattern; that is, the repetition of the engraved figure on a roller by which an impression is produced (as in calico printing, etc.).
3. (Mus.)
A mark, or series of dots, placed before and after, or often only at the end of, a passage to be repeated in performance.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for repeat; he lists it under quote.
Where he writes about it:
To recite or repeat is usually to quote orally, tho recite is applied in legal phrase to a particular statement of facts which is not a quotation; a kindred use obtains in ordinary speech; as, to recite one's misfortunes. — from quote