English Explanatory Dictionary

penitent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of one's sins or offenses; feeling sincere guilt.
  2. Doing penance.
noun
  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.
  3. One under the direction of a confessor.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɛnɪtənt/ en-us-penitent.ogg

Word forms

penitent more penitent most penitent pænitent penitant pœnitent penitents

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin paenitēns, poenitēns (“penitent”), present participle of paeniteō, poeniteō (“to cause to repent; to regret, repent”). Doublet of penitente.

Synonyms

repentant contrite remorseful penitent apologetic guilt-ridden

Derived words

nonpenitent penitence penitently unpenitent
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