PEN'ITENCE PENITENCY, noun [Latin poenitentia, from poeniteo, from poena, pain, punishment. See Pain.] Repentance; pain; sorrow or grief of heart for sins or offenses; contrition. Real penitence springs from a conviction of guilt and ingratitude to God, and is followed by amendment of life.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI