penitence

See also: pénitence

English

Alternative forms

pænitence (archaic)

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”). Doublet of penance.

Pronunciation

enPR: pĕnʹĭ-təns

Noun

penitence (countable and uncountable, plural penitences)

The condition of being penitent; a feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.

Synonyms

compunction, contrition, remorse, repentance, penance, atonement

See also Thesaurus:remorse

Related terms

▼ <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_terms_derived_from_the_PIE_root_*peh%E2%82%81-' title='Category:English terms derived from the PIE root *peh₁-'>English terms derived from the PIE root *peh₁-</a>‎ (0 c, 22 e)

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/fiend' title='fiend'>fiend</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/impassive' title='impassive'>impassive</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/impatience' title='impatience'>impatience</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passion' title='passion'>passion</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passionate' title='passionate'>passionate</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passive' title='passive'>passive</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passivity' title='passivity'>passivity</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/patience' title='patience'>patience</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/patient' title='patient'>patient</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penance' title='penance'>penance</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitence' title='penitence'>penitence</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitent' title='penitent'>penitent</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitente' title='penitente'>penitente</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitential' title='penitential'>penitential</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitentially' title='penitentially'>penitentially</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitentiary' title='penitentiary'>penitentiary</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitently' title='penitently'>penitently</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repent' title='repent'>repent</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repentance' title='repentance'>repentance</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repentant' title='repentant'>repentant</a>

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repentantly' title='repentantly'>repentantly</a>

Translations

condition of being penitent

Dutch: boetedoening (nl), inkeer (nl)
Finnish: katumus (fi)
French:
Old French: penitence f

German: Reue (de) f, Bußfertigkeit f, Buße (de) f
Irish: aithrí f
Portuguese: contrição f,, penitência (pt) f

Middle French

Alternative forms

paenitence
poenitence

Etymology

Latin.

Noun

penitence f (plural penitences)

(chiefly Christianity) penitence (repentance for one's sins)

Descendants

French: pénitence

Old French

Alternative forms

penitance
penitaunce

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin paenitentia.

Noun

penitence f (oblique plural penitences, nominative singular penitence, nominative plural penitences)

(chiefly Christianity) penitence (repentance for one's sins)

Descendants

English: penitence (borrowed)
Middle French: penitence
- French: pénitence