Definition of PENITENT

penitent

Plural: penitents

Noun

  • A person who repents their sins or wrongdoing.
  • (Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor)
  • One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of their transgressions.
  • One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
  • One under the direction of a confessor.

Adjective

  • feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds

Adj

  • Feeling pain or sorrow on account of one's sins or offenses; feeling sincere guilt.
  • Doing penance.

Examples

  • After a terrible move, he sat like a PENITENT, awaiting his opponent’s winning play.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin paenitēns, poenitēns (“penitent”), present participle of paeniteō, poeniteō (“I cause to repent; I regret, repent”). Doublet of penitente.

Synonyms

repentant, apologetic, contrite, guilt-ridden, penitent, remorseful

Scrabble Score: 10

penitent: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
penitent: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
penitent: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

penitent: valid Words With Friends Word