penitence

Etymology

First attested circa 13th century, from Middle English penitence, from Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”), from paenitēns (“penitent”), present active participle of paeniteō (“regret, repent”). Equivalent to penitent + -ence. Doublet of penance.

penitence means the condition of being penitent; a feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 77 out of 100.

Why “penitence” is a great word

PENITENCE — [Noun] The interior condition of sorrowful regret for wrongdoing, coupled with a desire for moral amendment. From Middle English penitence, from Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia ("repentance, penitence"), from paenitēns ("penitent"), present participle of paeniteō ("regret, repent"). First attested circa 13th century. Unlike "penance," which denotes the external ritual of atonement, or "remorse," which is a deep, often sterile pain of guilt, penitence is the active, inward sorrow that seeks transformation. It is the chill silence of the confessional before speech begins, the deliberate roughness of the hair shirt against the skin, and the bitter, metallic taste of true self-knowledge. It is the architecture of a spirit preparing for repair.

noun

The condition of being penitent; a feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.“an assassin who misses his aim and flounders into penitence much as that discomfortable drama misses its point and stumbles into vacuity”