penitent

[ pen-i-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and disposed to atonement and amendment; repentant; contrite.

   Synonyms: sorrowful, rueful, remorseful

   Antonyms: unrepentant, impenitent

noun

1. a penitent person.
2. Roman Catholic Church. a person who confesses sin and submits to a penance.

penitent

/ ˈpɛnɪtənt /

adjective

1. feeling regret for one's sins; repentant

noun

1. a person who is penitent
2. Christianity
   1. a person who repents his sins and seeks forgiveness for them
   2. RC Church a person who confesses his sins to a priest and submits to a penance imposed by him

Derived Forms

• ˈpenitently, adverb
• ˈpenitence, noun

Other Words From

• peni·tent·ly adverb
• non·peni·tent adjective noun
• un·peni·tent adjective
• un·peni·tent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of penitent¹

1325–75; Middle English < Medieval Latin pēnitent-, Latin paenitent- (stem of paenitēns ), present participle of paenitēre to regret; replacing Middle English penaunt < Anglo-French; penance

Word History and Origins

Origin of penitent¹

C14: from Church Latin paenitēns regretting, from paenitēre to repent, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

So then—can an inanimate tool such as this typewriter be penitent, reformed, and redeemed from the original sin of its creation?

From Slate

Can a “penitent” Nazi-era machine be somehow rehabilitated?

From Slate

Across the aisle, Artemisia Gentileschi’s recently rediscovered “Penitent Magdalene,” from about 1626, was available on the booth of the dealers Robilant and Voena at $7 million.

From New York Times

But it also happens to be Ash Wednesday, the solemn day of fasting and reflection that signals the start of Christianity’s most penitent season.

From Seattle Times

In its statement the church noted that Goodrich’s “communications with his bishop were protected by Idaho state law. Only the perpetrator could release the bishop from his obligation under the clergy penitent privilege and he refused to do so.”

From Washington Times