Syn.
— Repentance; contrition; compunction.
PENITENCER
Pen"i*ten*cer, n. Etym: [F. pénitencier.]
Defn: A priest who heard confession and enjoined penance in extraordinary cases. [Written also penitenser.] [Obs.] Chaucer.
PENITENCY
Pen"i*ten*cy, n.
Defn: Penitence. [Obs.]
PENITENT Pen"i*tent, a. Etym: [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 pound he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden.
2. Doing penance. [Obs.] Shak.
PENITENT
Pen"i*tent, n.
1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.