Rumoured to have lost heart and been repentant (4)
I believe the answer is:
rued
'rumoured' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rued that I've seen before include "'Regretted, repented (4)'" , "was remorseful" , "Bitterly regretted" , "Was sorry" , "Was contrite about" .)