Where does “penitent” come from?

Penitent comes from Latin paenitens, the present participle of paeniteo, which derives from Proto-Indo-European peh₁-.

penitent (English): Feeling pain or sorrow on account of one's sins...

Definitions

  1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of one's sins...

Ancestry of “penitent”, step by step

penitent traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English penitente

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpenitenteA tall thin blade of hardened snow or ice, found...
2Spanishpenitentea penitent
3Latinpaenitēnsregretful; repentant; penitent; contrite
4LatinpaeniteoI cause to repent; I regret, repent; I am sorry;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₁-to hate, hurt

via Latin poenitens

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpoenitensrepenting
2Latinpoeniteō—

Words derived from “penitent”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₁- →Every word from Latin paeniteo →Every word from Latin paenitēns →