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English word penance comes from Latin paenitere, and later Latin paenitentia (Repentance, penitence, regret.)
paenitere (Latin)
poenitens (Latin)
paenitentia (Latin)
Repentance, penitence, regret.
peneance (Old French)
penaunce (Middle English)
Penance (Christian ritual).
penance (English)
(obsolete) pain; sorrow; suffering. (obsolete) repentance. A sacrament in some Christian churches.. A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act. To impose penance; to punish.