PENITENT

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ~, from Latin paenitent-, paenitens, from present participle of paenitēre to cause regret, feel regret, perhaps from paene almost Date: 14th century feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses ; repentant , ~ly adverb II. noun Date: 14th century a person who repents of sin, a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation especially under the direction of a confessor