Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life. Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite. Milton. The pound he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden.
Doing penance. [Obs.] Shak.
One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
One under the direction of a confessor.
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