penitent

English

Alternative forms

• pænitent (archaic)
• pœnitent (archaic, nonstandard)

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin paenitens, poenitens (“penitent”), present participle of Latin paenitere, poenitere (“to cause to repent, intrans. repent, regret”).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

penitent (comparative more penitent, superlative most penitent)

1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life.
   • 1838, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, B. Blake, page 730,

     If thou be penitent and grieved, or desirous to be so, these heinous sins shall not be laid to thy charge.

2. Doing penance.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:remorseful

Translations

Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life

Russian: кающийся (ru), раскаивающийся (ru)

Doing penance

Noun

penitent (plural penitents)

1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
   • 1837, William Russell, The History of Modern Europe: with an Account of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Longman, Rees, & Co., page 20,

     Wamba, who defeated the Saracens in an attempt upon Spain, was deprived of the crown, because he had been clothed in the habit of a penitent, while labouring under the influence of poison, administered by the ambitious Erviga!

3. One under the direction of a confessor.

Synonyms

• penaunt

Related terms

• pen
• penance
• penitence
• penitentiary
• repent
• repentance
• repentant

External links

• penitent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• penitent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• penitent at OneLook Dictionary Search