penitent - meaning and definition. What is penitent
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Online Dictionary

What (who) is penitent - definition

REPENTANCE OF SINS
Penitent; Penitence; Public penance; Penances; Epitimia; Impenitent; Penance (virtue); Penance (as a Virtue); Confesses his sins; The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation; Penitant; Penitential garb
  • [[Russian Orthodox]] priest hearing confessions before [[Divine Liturgy]]
  • Luther-kirkko (Helsinki)}} ([[Helsinki]], Finland)
  • Nathan]] and the penance of [[King David]] ([[Paris Psalter]], folio 136v, 10th century).
  • ''La Penitente'' by [[Pietro Rotari]]
  • access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref>
  • Confession in a [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]]

penitent         
¦ adjective feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.
¦ noun a person who repents their sins.
?(in the Roman Catholic Church) a person who confesses their sins to a priest and submits to the penance that he imposes.
Derivatives
penitence noun
penitential adjective
penitently adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr., from L. paenitent-, paenitere 'repent'.
penitent         
I. a.
Repentant, contrite, remorseful, sorry, sorrowful.
II. n.
1.
Repentant.
2.
Penitentiary, repentant, penance-doer.
penitent         
adj. penitent for

Wikipedia

Penance

Penance is any act or a set of actions done out of repentance for sins committed, as well as an alternate name for the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. It also plays a part in confession among Anglicans and Methodists, in which it is a rite, as well as among other Protestants. The word penance derives from Old French and Latin paenitentia, both of which derive from the same root meaning repentance, the desire to be forgiven (in English see contrition). Penance and repentance, similar in their derivation and original sense, have come to symbolize conflicting views of the essence of repentance, arising from the controversy as to the respective merits of "faith" and "good works". Word derivations occur in many languages.

According to dictionary definitions, the primary meaning of penance is the deeds done out of penitence, which also focuses more on the external actions than does repentance which refers to the true, interior sorrow for one's hurtful words or actions. Only repentance implies a purpose of amendment which means the resolve to avoid such hurtful behavior in the future. The words "true" and "firm" might be added to all but penance, to specify the depth of change in one's hurtful attitude. Contrition is the state of feeling remorseful, and can describe both the show of regret to the deepest and firmest sorrow for one's wrongdoings.

Pronunciation examples for penitent
1. impassive as a Penitent on the outside.
The Ruin of Angels - A Novel of the Craft Sequence _ Max Gladstone _ Talks at Google
2. ...help us to wait upon thee with penitent hearts...
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
3. to do and now, in penitent desperation, you give it to her.
This is How You Lose Her _ Junot Diaz _ Talks at Google
4. to think about the stuff you've done and be penitent about it.
Phil Zimbardo + More _ Talks at Google
Examples of use of penitent
1. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), the panel chairman, informed the penitent witness.
2. Journalists equate their relationship with sources to the lawyer–client, doctor–patient, priest–penitent privileges.
3. The Portugal centre–back will remain there until Mourinho declares him properly penitent.
4. Confidentiality is observed in doctor–patient relations, priest–penitent relations, and, yes, lawyer–client relations.
5. The almost pornographically penitent nature of their texts has often worked as a disincentive against their revival.