penitent

penitent is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 4 senses. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.

Definitions

  1. 1.Doing penance. [Obs.] Shak.
  2. 2.One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
  3. 3.One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
  4. 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.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

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