Associations to the word «Penitence»

Wiktionary

PENITENCE, noun. Condition of being penitent.
PENITENCE, noun. Feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.

Dictionary definition

PENITENCE, noun. Remorse for your past conduct.

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats