What does "penitent" mean?
Penitent: Doing penance. [Obs.] Shak.
Additional senses
- 2.One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
- 3.One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
- 4.One under the direction of a confessor. Note: Penitents is an appellation given to certain fraternities in Roman Catholic countries, distinguished by their habit, and employed in charitable acts.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00