Category:Penitence

Pen"i*tence, n. Etym: [f. pénitence, l. paenitentia. See penitent, And cf. Penance.]

Defn: the quality or condition of being penitent; the disposition of A penitent; sorrow for sins or faults; repentance; contrition. "penitence of his old guilt." Chaucer. Death is deferred, and penitenance has room to mitigate, if not Reverse, the doom. Dryden.

Syn. -- repentance; contrition; compunction.