penitence

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈpɛnɪtəns/ UK /ˈpɛnɪtəns/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
sincere regret or remorse for wrongdoing

His penitence seemed genuine and heartfelt.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · sincere regret or remorse... contrition repentance remorse compunctionruefulnessregret

Opposites

impenitenceunrepentancedefiance

Word family

Forms penitentialpenitentiallypenitentials

Related forms penitent penance repent penitentiary

Etymology

From Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia ('repentance'), from paenitere ('to cause or feel regret').

paenitentia Latin paenitere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# penitence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɛnɪtəns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɛnɪtəns/

## Meanings
1. sincere regret or remorse for wrongdoing

## Examples
- His penitence seemed genuine and heartfelt.

## Synonyms
- contrition
- repentance
- remorse
- compunction
- ruefulness
- regret

## Antonyms
- impenitence
- unrepentance
- defiance

## Related Forms
- penitent
- penance
- repent
- penitentiary

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: paenitentia
- Root: paenitere

## Etymology
From Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia ('repentance'), from paenitere ('to cause or feel regret').

## AI Etymology
Penitence comes from Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia ('repentance'), from paenitere ('to cause or feel regret'). The etymological trail includes Latin paenitentia and Latin paenitere. As a noun, penitence means sincere regret or remorse for wrongdoing. The same family is visible in related forms such as penitent, penance, repent, and penitentiary.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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