Etymology Explorer › English

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

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

Words derived from “penitent”

  • penitently
  • unpenitent
  • nonpenitent
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₁- →