PENITENT


Meaning of PENITENT in English

I. -tənt adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French penitent, 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

• pen·i·tent·ly adverb

II. noun

Date: 14th century

1. : a person who repents of sin

2. : a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation especially under the direction of a confessor

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.