ETYM French pénitent, Latin paenitens, -entis, poenitens, p. pr. of paenitere, poenitere, to cause to repent, to repent; prob. akin to poena punishment. Related to Pain.
Feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds; SYN. repentant.
Množina: penitents
A person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor).