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# penitence

noun (penitence, uncountable)

«penitence» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Feeling truly sorry for something wrong you did, and wanting to put it right. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#m1)
2. (church) Sorrow for sin; Christians believe that God forgives those who turn back to him with true penitence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories, Toad shows penitence and promises to reform, but forgets it quickly. In church, Lent is a season of penitence, and confession is a sign of it. In ethics lessons, penitence is different from just being caught.

### Examples

- After his promise, Toad's penitence lasted only a day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#x1)
- (church) Lent is a time of prayer and penitence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#x2)
- Her penitence was real: she apologised and paid for the vase. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#x3)
- He hung his head in penitence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#x4)
- (church) Christians believe God welcomes true penitence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#x5)
- Tears of penitence ran down his face. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/#x6)

### Note

Adjective: penitent. Similar: repentance, remorse. Opposite: pride, defiance.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «penitence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penitence/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«penitence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/penitence.html) on Mova free.