Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Penitent
Pen′i-tent
,Adj.
[F.
pénitent
, L. paenitens
, -entis
, poenitens
, p. pr. of paenitere
, poenitere
, to cause to repent, to repent; prob. akin to poena
punishment. See Pain
.] 1.
Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life.
Be
penitent
, and for thy fault contrite. Milton.
The proud he tamed, the
penitent
he cheered. Dryden.
2.
Doing penance.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Pen′i-tent
,Noun.
1.
One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
2.
One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
3.
One under the direction of a confessor.
☞ Penitents is an appellation given to certain fraternities in Roman Catholic countries, distinguished by their habit, and employed in charitable acts.
Webster 1828 Edition
Penitent
PEN'ITENT
,Adj.
The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd.
PEN'ITENT
,Noun.
1.
One under church censure, but admitted to penance.2.
One under the direction of a confessor.Penitents is an appellation given to certain fraternities in catholic countries, distinguished by their habits and employed in charitable acts.
Order of penitents, a religious order established by one Bernard of Marseilles, about the year 1272, for the reception of reformed courtezans. The congregation of penitents at Paris, was founded with a similar view.
Definition 2024
penitent
penitent
See also: pénitent
English
Alternative forms
Adjective
penitent (comparative more penitent, superlative most penitent)
- Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life.
- 1838, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, B. Blake, p.730,
- If thou be penitent and grieved, or desirous to be so, these heinous sins shall not be laid to thy charge.
- Milton
- Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite.
- 1838, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, B. Blake, p.730,
- Doing penance.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:remorseful
Translations
Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life
Noun
penitent (plural penitents)
- One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his or her transgressions.
- One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
- 1837, William Russell, The History of Modern Europe: with an Account of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Longman, Rees, & Co., page 20,
- Wamba, who defeated the Saracens in an attempt upon Spain, was deprived of the crown, because he had been clothed in the habit of a penitent, while labouring under the influence of poison, administered by the ambitious Erviga!
- 1837, William Russell, The History of Modern Europe: with an Account of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Longman, Rees, & Co., page 20,
- One under the direction of a confessor.
Translations
one who repents of sin
one under the direction of a confessor