penitent

pen·i·tent

Use penitent in a sentence

The penitent child was consoled by her mother.

adjective

The definition of penitent is feeling or showing remorse for something.
An example of penitent is a child who is sorry he misbehaved and who apologizes.

noun

In the Roman Catholic religion, a penitent is a person who confesses his sins to a priest and does penance.
An example of penitent is a person who confesses to a priest and then, as directed, says five Hail Marys.

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"penitent." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Penitent>.

APA Style

penitent. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Penitent

penitent

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

Origin of penitent

Old French from Classical Latin paenitens, present participle of paenitere, to repent; probably akin to paene, scarcely: see passion

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

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MLA Style

"penitent." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Penitent>.

APA Style

penitent. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Penitent

penitent

adjective

Feeling or expressing remorse for one's misdeeds or sins; contrite.

noun

One who is penitent.
A person performing penance under the direction of a confessor.

Origin of penitent

Middle English from Old French from Medieval Latin pēnitēns pēnitent- from Latin paenitēns present participle of paenitēre to repent

Related Forms:

pen′i·tent·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"penitent." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Penitent>.

APA Style

penitent. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Penitent

Adjective

(comparative more penitent, superlative most penitent)

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.
Doing penance.

Noun

(plural penitents)

One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his or her transgressions.
One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
One under the direction of a confessor.

Origin

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

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.