penitent Hear it!

penitent Definition

peni·tent (peni tənt)

adjective

truly sorry for having sinned or done other wrong and willing to atone; contrite; repentant

Etymology: OFr < L paenitens, prp. of paenitere, to repent; prob. akin to paene, scarcely: see passion

noun

  1. a penitent person
  2. a person receiving or intending to receive the sacrament of penance

penitent Related Forms
peni·tently adverb
penitent Synonyms

penitent

modif.

penitent Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • absolve: When a priest administers the sacrament, it is Christ who absolves the penitent through the action of the priest.
  • become: If they become penitents they shall willingly bow at the footstool of His grace to receive His pardon.
  • die: The developed doctrine is that those who die penitent and in faith may still have temporal punishments due because of their sins.

Adjective modifier

  • true: This also tells us why the Prayer was originally written, namely to reveal the state of heart of a true penitent.
  • great: In his latter days he proved a great penitent, reflected greatly on his youthfull transactions.

Modifies a noun

  • sinner: In verse 20 then you see God's love demonstrated toward a penitent sinner.
  • thief: The penitent thief does not use theological language in his regard for Jesus.
  • believer: God offereth to be a Father in Christ to all penitent believers.
  • heart: And my penitent heart will well-nigh break With tears that I cannot shed.
  • form: I have been forth to the penitent form five nights now.
  • soul: Such a penitent soul must surely go into the heavenly fold!

Modifying Another Word

  • truly: The truly penitent are content to leave it to God to make them whole eventually.
  • very: After first employing his wife not to " Kiss the book " he burst into tears and assumed a very penitent air.

Used with adjective complement

  • die: But he died penitent -- he just died of being penitent.
  • feel: Even when Eric is upset and feels penitent for what he done and then Mrs Birling says: Eric!
  • seem: She denied to the last her being any way guilty, seemed very penitent, and declared she died in charity.

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