ˌpenəˈtentā, -tē noun
( plural penitentes -ās, -ēz)
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: American Spanish, literally, penitent, singular of Penitentes Penitents, short for Los Hermanos Penitentes The Penitent Brothers, religious society that originated in Mexico
: a member of a religious society of Flagellants in Spanish-American communities of the southwestern United States (as New Mexico) who practice self-whipping and other forms of penitential torture particularly during Holy Week