/ ˈpenɪtənt; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
feeling or showing that you are sorry for having done sth wrong
SYN remorseful
■ noun
a person who shows that they are sorry for doing sth wrong, especially a religious person who wants God to forgive them
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French , from Latin paenitent- repenting, from the verb paenitere .