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Added 9 October 2026

penitent

/ˈpɛnɪtənt/ adjective

In Latin: paenitens Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about penitent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Feeling pain or sorrow on account of one's sins or offenses; feeling sincere guilt.
Doing penance.

noun

One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of their 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 paenitēns, poenitēns (“penitent”), present participle of paeniteō, poeniteō (“to cause to repent; to regret, repent”). Doublet of penitente.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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