Repose, n.
Etymology: [F. repos. See Repose, v.]
1. A lying at rest; sleep; rest; quiet. Shake off the golden slumber of repose. Shak.
2. Rest of mind; tranquillity; freedom from uneasiness; also, a composed manner or deportment.
3. (Poetic)
A rest; a pause.
3 more senses
4. (Fine Arts)
That harmony or moderation which affords rest for the eue; -- opposed to the scattering and division of a subject into too many unconnected parts, and also to anything which is overstrained; as, a painting may want repose. Angle of repose (Physics), the inclination of a plane at which a body placed on the plane would remain at rest, or if in motion would roll or side down with uniform velocity; the angle at which the various kinds of earth will stand when abandoned to themselves.
Syn. -- Rest; recumbency; reclination; ease; quiet; quietness; tranquillity; peace.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Repose (r-pz) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reposed (-pzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reposing.]
1. To cause to stop or to rest after motion; hence, to deposit; to lay down; to lodge; to reposit. [Obs.] But these thy fortunes let us straight repose In this divine cave's bosom. Chapman. Pebbles reposed in those cliffs amongst the earth . . . are left behind. Woodward.
2. To lay at rest; to cause to be calm or quiet; to compose; to rest, -- often reflexive; as, to repose one's self on a couch. All being settled and reposed, the lord archibishop did present his majesty to the lords and commons. Fuller. After the toil of battle to repose Your wearied virtue. Milton.
3. To place, have, or rest; to set; to intrust. The king reposeth all his confidence in thee. Shak.
Repose, v. i.
1. To lie at rest; to rest. Within a thicket I reposed. Chapman.
2. Figuratively, to remain or abide restfully without anxiety or alarms. It is upon these that the soul may repose. I. Taylor.
3. To lie; to be supported; as, trap reposing on sand.
Syn. -- To lie; recline; couch; rest; sleep; settle; lodge; abide.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for repose; he lists it under rest.
Where he writes about it:
Repose is a laying down, primarily of the body, and figuratively a similar freedom from toil or strain of mind. — from rest
Repose is more complete than rest; a pause is a momentary cessation of activity; a black-smith finds a temporary rest while the iron is heating, but he does not yield to repose; in a pause of battle a soldier rests on his arms; after the battle the victor reposes on his laurels. — from rest
Sleep is the perfection of repose, the most complete rest; slumber is a light and ordinarily pleasant form of sleep. — from rest
In the figurative sense, rest of mind, soul, conscience, is not mere cessation of activity, but a pleasing, tranquil relief from all painful and wearying activity; repose is even more deep, tranquil, and complete. — from rest