'Penitential' definitions:
Definition of 'penitential'
From: WordNet
adjective
Showing or constituting penance; "penitential tears"; "wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words" [syn: penitential, penitentiary]
Definition of 'Penitential'
From: GCIDE
- Penitential \Pen`i*ten"tial\, n. (R. C. Ch.) A book formerly used by priests hearing confessions, containing rules for the imposition of penances; -- called also penitential book. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Penitential'
From: GCIDE
- Penitential \Pen`i*ten"tial\, a. [Cf. F. p['e]nitentiel.] Of or pertaining to penitence, or to penance; expressing penitence; of the nature of penance; as, the penitential book; penitential tears. "Penitential stripes." --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
- Guilt that all the penitential fires of hereafter can not cleanse. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'penitential'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abject,
- amendatory,
- apologetic,
- ascetic,
- atoning,
- balancing,
- cleansing,
- compensating,
- compensational,
- compensatory,
- compunctious,
- contrite,
- counteracting,
- counteractive,
- counterbalancing,
- countervailing,
- expiatory,
- humble,
- humbled,
- indemnificatory,
- lustral,
- lustrational,
- lustrative,
- melted,
- offsetting,
- penitent,
- penitentiary,
- piacular,
- propitiatory,
- purgative,
- purgatorial,
- purifying,
- reclamatory,
- recompensing,
- recompensive,
- rectifying,
- redeeming,
- redemptive,
- redressing,
- regretful,
- reparative,
- reparatory,
- repentant,
- repenting,
- restitutional,
- restitutive,
- restitutory,
- retaliatory,
- righting,
- satisfactional,
- sheepish,
- softened,
- sorry,
- squaring,
- touched