penitent
Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French -, from Latin paenitēns, poenitēns ("penitent"), present participle of paeniteō, poeniteō ("I cause to repent; I regret, repent").

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈpɛnɪtənt/
Adjective

penitent

  1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of one's sins or offenses; feeling sincere guilt.
    Synonyms: repentant, contrite, Thesaurus:remorseful
    • 1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain'd. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC ↗:
      Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite.
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC ↗:
      If thou be penitent and grieved, or desirous to be so, these heinous sins shall not be laid to thy charge.
  2. Doing penance.
    • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:
      […] But we that know what ’tis to faſt and pray, / Are penitent for your default to day.
Translations Noun

penitent (plural penitents)

  1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of their transgressions.
  2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
    Hyponym: consistent
  3. One under the direction of a confessor.
Translations Translations Translations


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