I. |penə|tenchəl adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin poenitentialis, from poenitentia penitence + Latin -alis -al
: of or relating to penitence or penance : expressing penitence : of the nature of penance
penitential tears
the Day of Atonement which is the great penitential day of the Hebrew calendar — Nathaniel Micklem
collections of the penances which he had appointed … came to influence the whole penitential system of the West — F.M.Stenton
• pen·i·ten·tial·ly -chəlē, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Medieval Latin poenitentiale, from poenitentialis penitential, adjective; in other senses, from penitential, adjective
1. : a manual of ecclesiastical rules for the imposition of penances suitable to different sins
2. : penitent
3. penitentials plural : penitential garb ; also : garments of black