Webster's English Dictionary

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penitent

1. pen.i.tent \-t*nt\ aj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L paenitent-, paenitens, fr. prp. 
   of paenite]-re to be sorry; akin to L paene almost - more at PATIENT : 
   feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : REPENT ANT - 
   pen.i.tent.ly av
2. penitent n 1: a person who repents of sin  2: a person under church 
   censure but admitted to penance esp. under the dir ection of a confessor