Definition of
penance has definitions from the fields of Roman Catholic,religion,Christianity,sociology
1
[ noun ] (Roman Catholic,religion,Christianity) a Catholic sacrament; repentance and confession and satisfaction and absolution

Used in print

(Glayds H. Barr, The Master of Geneva....)

Catholics who were truly Christians longed for the simple penance of days gone_by .

Related terms

sacrament confession absolution

2
[ noun ] remorse for your past conduct

Synonyms

repentance penitence

Used in print

(Joyce O. Hertzler, American Social Institutions;...)

The tensions accompanying a repressive consciousness of wrongdoing or sinning or some tormenting secret are relieved for the less self-contained or self-sufficient by confession , repentance , and penance .

Related terms

compunction repent

3
[ noun ] (sociology) voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing

Synonyms

self-abasement self-mortification

Related terms

punishment

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Rhymes with

independence interdependence dependence repentance sentence transcendence ascendance attendance preeminence maintenance essence eminence resonance permanence entrance vengeance innocence patience recognizance reconnaissance preference governance pittance terence presence maintenance senescence luminescence invariance evanescence continuance severance impatience acceptance deference instance acquaintance reference discontinuance preponderance cognizance predominance luminance dominance prominence omnipresence ordnance dissonance immanence abstinence imminence appearance variance comeuppance temperance inheritance occurrence precedence resemblance concurrence reticence hindrance abundance abeyance residence remembrance conveyance decadence disappearance reappearance overabundance provenance quintessence forbearance teleconference preference transience correspondence irreverence utterance cadence sustenance prevalence acquiescence phosphorescence adolescence clarence obsolescence relevance benevolence beneficence irrelevance convalescence incontinence ordinance countenance semblance evidence conference inference consequence valence reverence coinsurance appliance endurance eloquence deference reminiscence reference conference severance counterbalance radiance annoyance impedance compliance elegance disappearance arrogance noncompliance prudence riddance petulance surveillance subservience temperance radiance inductance indulgence indifference inconvenience protuberance deliverance exuberance deterrence convenience provence province incompetence incidence inadvertence impotence pestilence emergence coincidence disturbance remittance omnipotence submergence nuisance balance connivance imprudence fragrance recurrence jurisprudence intolerance science insolence allowance influence ignorance resurgence alliance excellence perseverance parlance divergence difference convergence observance noninterference transference interference clearance reluctance bunce insistence inexperience coexistence importance experience consistence existence expedience emergence subsistence belligerence intelligence self-confidence admittance guidance overconfidence distance counterintelligence confidence tolerance recalcitrance flamboyance

Phonetic and Homophones

P EH1 N AH0 N S

Similar Spelling

pennoncel penoncel pennines penning

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