Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, relating to, or expressing penitence.
  • adjective Of or relating to penance.
  • noun A book or set of church rules concerning the sacrament of penance.
  • noun A penitent.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of, pertaining to, proceeding from, or expressing penitence or contrition of heart: as, penitential sorrow; penitential psalms.
  • Eccles., pertaining to the administration of the sacrament of penance; hence, of the nature of penance or punishment.
  • noun In the Rom. Cath. and the Gr. Ch., a book or code of canons relating to penance and the reconciliation of penitents.
  • noun One who has undergone penitential discipline.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (R. C. Ch.) A book formerly used by priests hearing confessions, containing rules for the imposition of penances; -- called also penitential book.
  • adjective Of or pertaining to penitence, or to penance; expressing penitence; of the nature of penance

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Pertaining to penance or penitence
  • noun a book or set of rules pertaining to the Christian sacrament of penance

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective showing or constituting penance

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