penitence
noun
Forms penitences pænitence
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested circa 13th century, from Middle English penitence, from Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”), from paenitēns (“penitent”), present active participle of paeniteō (“regret, repent”). Equivalent to penitent + -ence. Doublet of penance.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The quality or condition of being penitent; the disposition of a penitent; sorrow for sins or faults; repentance; contrition.
Etymology [F. pénitence, L. paenitentia. See Penitent, and cf. Penance.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “penitence”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details