penitential

adjective

pen·​i·​ten·​tial ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-shəl How to pronounce penitential (audio)
: of or relating to penitence or penance
penitentially adverb

Examples of penitential in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sanctuary had for centuries grown detached from penitential discipline and become incorporated within royal criminal law, while the church’s emphasis shifted from the sacrality of space to jurisdictional immunity, which in turn became more closely linked to royal grants. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020 The church released a statement on its website Thursday saying that, due to the desecration of the altar, Abbot Elijah Owens and the monastic community will undertake the penitential rite, reparation for the desecration and offer a Mass of Reparation. Monica Brich, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2023 Throughout Lent—the penitential season prior to Easter, which for the Orthodox is this Sunday—Ukrainian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops, metropolitans, clergy, and scholars have been consumed with the issues of the war. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2022 Established and state-regulated by the late fourth century, Christian sanctuary was based in episcopal intercession and penitential discipline; it was intended to spare the body the worst consequences of crime and thereby to save the soul from the everlasting implications of sin. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020 Purchase of pardons had traditionally allowed people to bypass the penitential rituals the Church required for remission of sins. Maureen Quilligan, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022 The choir – split into two groups to accommodate social distancing – offers four works that touch on penitential themes. oregonlive, 22 Mar. 2022 But there’s something penitential about her account, a purging of her regret and guilt about her co-workers (many of whom testify here) but also her stupidity, about business and men. John Anderson, WSJ, 15 Mar. 2022 Today is Ash Wednesday, which for Christians marks the start of the 40-day penitential season of Lent. Editors, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penitential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penitential was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near penitential

Cite this Entry

“Penitential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitential. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

penitential

adjective
pen·​i·​ten·​tial ˌpen-ə-ˈten-chəl How to pronounce penitential (audio)
: of or relating to penitence or penance
penitentially adverb

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