adjective
penitentiary
Relating to acts expressing repentance for wrongdoing.
The old text describes a penitentiary rite of repentance.
Etymology
The Latin word family concerns repentance. In this sense, penitentiary describes practices or acts directed toward expressing remorse and making amends.
More examples
- The service included penitentiary prayers.
- The scholar explained the penitentiary practice.
- They studied the penitentiary character of the ritual.
Forms
penitentiary
Similar words
- penitential
- Penitential is the more usual adjective for expressing repentance.
- repentant
- Repentant describes feeling remorse rather than a rite or practice.