Penitent meaning

pĕn'ĭ-tənt
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.

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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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Feeling or expressing remorse for one's misdeeds or sins; contrite.
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One who is penitent.
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A person performing penance under the direction of a confessor.
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Truly sorry for having sinned or done other wrong and willing to atone; contrite; repentant.
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A penitent person.
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A person receiving or intending to receive the sacrament of penance.
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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.
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Doing penance.

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

  • Middle English from Old French from Medieval Latin pēnitēns pēnitent- from Latin paenitēns present participle of paenitēre to repent
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin paenitens, poenitens (“penitent"), present participle of Latin paenitere, poenitere (“to cause to repent, intrans. repent, regret").
    From Wiktionary

Penitent Sentence Examples

  • And shortly after his penitent died unabsolved.

  • Origen implies that in his days the penitent might choose his own spiritual physician.

  • The world saw with astonishment this vicious, rough, coarse-fibred man of the world transformed into an austere penitent, who worked miracles of healing.

  • 19, 26, &c.); until finally, under the influence of the idea of the Church as the sole ark of salvation, it became the custom to readmit all penitent offenders on condition that they did adequate penance.

  • 1687) in which he represented her as truly penitent - a charitable judgment which did not meet with universal approval.

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Words near penitent in the Dictionary