penitence in American English
SYNONYMS See regret.
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[1150–1200; ME (‹ OF) ‹ ML pēnitentia, L paenitentia a regretting.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Penitence was less frightening to them since they were taught to be confident in the sacrament, and they rejected religious reforms that abolished the source of their consolation.
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penitence in American English
SYNONYMY NOTE: penitence implies sorrow over having sinned or done wrong; repentance implies full realization of one's sins or wrongs and a will to change one's ways; contrition implies a deep, crushing sorrow for one's sins, with a true purpose of amendment; compunction implies a pricking of the conscience and therefore suggests a sharp but passing feeling of uneasiness about wrongdoing; remorse implies a deep and torturing sense of guilt; regret may refer to sorrow over any unfortunate occurrence as well as over a fault or act of one's own
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 5th Digital Edition.
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penitencenoun
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun penitence.
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From the Cambridge English Corpus
The digestive process in the liver is equated with the compunction of the perfecti, which is secondary, coming after penitence, and is directed at venial sins.
From the
Hansard archive
Are we to sit on the stool of penitence and submit to policies with which we do not agree?
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From the Cambridge English Corpus
They were there, we read, in their thousands, their hearts aglow with religious fervour and their eyes red with the tears of penitence.
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Aldiss, Brian SOMEWHERE EAST OF LIFE (1989)
Michael shot her a reprovingglance, so she covered her mouth in mock penitence.Maupin, Armistead MORE TALES OF THE CITY (1989)
Others come from or carrying heavy crosses knees in penitence.His punishment was reduced because of his penitence and his promise to mend his ways.For more difficultprisoners the next cell stage was the "cell of penitence".He noted that the doors were closed as a sign of our penitence and sorrow, as well as protest.Instead of an allegory of prudence, it has been seen as an allegory about sin and penitence.The ceremony of public penitence then began with a procession of prisoners, who bore elaboratevisual symbols on their garments and bodies.Just as her sins were forgiven because of her penitence, so the faithful are exhorted to repent of their sins.