penitence

See also: pénitence

English

Alternative forms

• pænitence (archaic)

Etymology

First attested circa 13th century, from Middle English penitence, from Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”), from paenitēns (“penitent”), present active participle of paeniteō (“regret, repent”). Equivalent to penitent +‎ -ence. Doublet of penance.

Pronunciation

• enPR: pĕnʹĭ-təns

Noun

penitence (countable and uncountable, plural penitences)

1. The condition of being penitent; a feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.
   • 1887, W. S. Gilbert, Ruddigore, Act II:

     Away, Remorse! / Compunction, hence!. / Go, Moral Force! / Go, Penitence!

Synonyms

• compunction, contrition, remorse, repentance, penance, atonement

• See also Thesaurus:remorse

Related terms

English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *peh₁- (0 c, 30 e)

Translations

condition of being penitent

• Bulgarian: разкаяние (bg) n (razkajanie)
• Dutch: boetedoening (nl), inkeer (nl)
• Finnish: katumus (fi)
• French:

  Old French: penitence f

• Galician: penitencia (gl) f
• German: Reue (de) f, Bußfertigkeit f, Buße (de) f
• Irish: aithrí f
• Portuguese: contrição (pt) f,, penitência (pt) f
• Spanish: penitencia (es)

Middle French

Alternative forms

• paenitence
• poenitence

Etymology

From Latin paenitentia.

Noun

penitence f (plural penitences)

1. (chiefly Christianity) penitence (repentance for one's sins)

Descendants

• French: pénitence

Old French

Alternative forms

• penitance
• penitaunce

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin paenitentia.

Noun

penitence oblique singular, f (oblique plural penitences, nominative singular penitence, nominative plural penitences)

1. (chiefly Christianity) penitence (repentance for one's sins)

Descendants

• → English: penitence
• Middle French: penitence
  • French: pénitence