penitent
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1pen·i·tent

adjective \-tənt\

Definition of PENITENT

: feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant
pen·i·tent·ly adverb

Examples of PENITENT

  1. <a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness>

Origin of PENITENT

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French penitent, from Latin paenitent-, paenitens, from present participle of paenitēre to cause regret, feel regret, perhaps from paene almost
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra

2penitent

noun

Definition of PENITENT

1
: a person who repents of sin
2
: a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation especially under the direction of a confessor

First Known Use of PENITENT

14th century

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