impenitent

alternative archaic impænitent · alternative archaic hypercorrect impœnitent

1. Not penitent; specifically (Christianity), not repenting of one's sins; unrepentant.

   But I pitty the flatteries, and ſelfe-applauſes of a careleſſe and impenitent heart: This jollity hath in it much danger, and vvithout ſome change, death.

   1651, Jos[eph] Hall, “Soliloq[uy] XI. False Joy.”, in Susurrium cum Deo. Soliloquies: Or, Holy Self-conferences of the Devout Soul, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Hunt, and are to be sold by George Lathum junior, […], →OCLC, page 37

   4 more examples

   [I]f they mende and repente better, will in ſtede of purgatorye which they nowe mocke & ieſte at, wepe and repent in hell this fooliſh fruitleſſe faſhion of their impenitent repentance.

   1532, Thomas More, “The Confutacion of [William] Tyndale’s Aunswere […]. The Recapitulacion of all Tyndalles Processe Concernyng the Churche, from the Begynning hetherto.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book IV (Whether the Church can Erre), page 613, column 1

   The caſe of impœnitent and notorious ſinners is not like vnto theirs vvhoſe onely imperfection is error ſeuered from pertinacie, error in appearance content to ſubmit it ſelfe to better inſtruction, error ſo farre already cured as to craue at our hands that Sacrament, the hatred and vtter refuſall vvhereof vvas the vvaightieſt point vvherein heretofore they ſvvarued and vvent aſtraie.

   1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, page 370

   The minds, therefore, which they set at ease, are only those of impenitent criminals and malefactors, and which, to the good of mankind, should be in perpetual terror and alarm.

   1710 February 28 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Friday, February 18, 1709–10”, in The Tatler, number 135; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume II, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 302

   “Captain Peleg,” said Bildad steadily, “thy conscience may be drawing ten inches of water, or ten fathoms, I can’t tell; but as thou art still an impenitent man, Captain Peleg, I greatly fear lest thy conscience be but a leaky one; and will in the end sink thee foundering down to the fiery pit, Captain Peleg.”

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Ship”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 87

   Synonyms: obdurate · Antonyms: penitent

plural impenitents

1. One who is not penitent.

   For as for the firſt kynde of eleccion, after whiche, Chriſte hathe choſen bys catholike churche out of the Jewes and Gentiles, to be his church here in earth: in thys kynde are there penitentes and impenitentes bothe.

   1532, Thomas More, “The Confutacion of [William] Tyndale’s Aunswere […]”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book IV (Whether the Church can Erre), page 525, column 1