penitential

P3E1N1I1T1E1N1T1I1A1L1
/ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəl/

adjective

Pertaining to penance or penitence.

Similar
penitentiarypenitentrepentant
OriginMedieval Latin paenitentiālis ← Latin paenitentia →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

adjectivepenitential (comparative more penitential, superlative most penitential)

comparative more penitential · superlative most penitential · alternative pœnitential

  1. Pertaining to penance or penitence.

    Guilt that all the penitential fires of hereafter can not cleanse.

    1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC
nounpenitential (plural penitentials)

plural penitentials · alternative pœnitential

  1. A book or set of rules pertaining to the Christian sacrament of penance.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveshowing or constituting penance

Similar
penitentiarypenitentrepentant
Also see
penitentpenitentiaryrepentant

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinpaenitentia“repentance”
  2. Medieval Latinpaenitentiālis
  3. Englishpenitential

From Medieval Latin paenitentiālis, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance”). Attested since the 16th century.

More words from Medieval Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with penitential

confidentialinfluentialexistentialprecedentialaffluentialsuperquintessential
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

penitential. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penitential

MLA

“penitential.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penitential. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “penitential,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penitential.

Source: penitential on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.