adj
penitent
PEH-nih-tuhnt
adj
1
Feeling genuine sorrow or guilt for having done wrong.
"The penitent teenager admitted to breaking curfew and apologized to his parents."
noun
1
A person who feels and shows remorse for their wrongdoing, especially in a religious context.
"The penitents knelt in the chapel, praying for forgiveness."
How to Use Penitent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSorry in a deep, sincere way for something you did wrong.
Common pairings
a penitent sinner
look penitent
truly penitent
Word Forms
more penitent comparative, penitents plural, most penitent superlative
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Etymology
From Old French penitent, from Latin paenitēns, present participle of paenitēre, "to repent."