I. pen ‧ i ‧ tent 1 /ˈpenətənt, ˈpenɪtənt/ BrE AmE adjective formal
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: pénitent , from Latin , present participle of paenitere 'to be sorry' ]
feeling sorry because you have done something wrong, and are intending not to do it again SYN repentant :
a penitent expression
—penitently adverb
—penitence noun [uncountable]
II. penitent 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
someone who is doing ↑ penance