A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1641
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Penitent, a. and n.1 Also: peny-, pene-, pœni-, pæni-, pani-. [ME. and e.m.E. penitent adj . (Chaucer), penitaunt n. (Lydgate), OF. pénitent (14th c. in Littré), L. pænitens.]
1. adj. Repentant, contrite, penitent.Also const. for or of (one's misdeed).Chiefly predic.predic. (1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 378.
He for-gef his matalent Til hyme that wes sa penitent a1400 Ib. xxxiv. 190.
I … prais thé … That thu me penytent wald take c1420 Wynt. v. 3809.
The yhete off hewyn … suld be Oppyn till all man penytent a1500 Henr. Fab. 685 (Ch.).
It plesis me that ȝe ar penitent a1500 Id. III. 163/34 (Bann.
Haif mercy of thy pepill penitent [B. penetent] c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 150.
Dr.). Thairfoir forgif me as thow hir forgaif That seis my hart as hiris penitent c1500-c1512 Ib. xc. 9.
I reid man of thi transgressioun With all thi hert that thow be penitent 1534–5 Protocol Book of Sir John Cristisone 35.
Into the tyme that he be fundyne penitent a1538 Abell 9* a.
Penitent verile wes Kyng Mannasses a1538 Ib. 113 a.
Ordur of wemen penitent lous before of life c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5841. 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 6.
The said James, in presence of the congregatioun, … declareit oppinlie himself penitent a1578 Pitsc. I. 105/28.
To becume penetent and amend his lyfe(b) c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxii. 20.
Bott sen that I am panitent grantt me mercie(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 45.
That Vortigern was penitent of all offencis done be him c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 325.
Ferquharde … last became penitent of his injustice c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5552.
And for our syn be penitent c1550-60 Arundel MS. 175 b/3.
For thy trespassis penitent a1578 Pitsc. I. 129/4.
To all men that ar become penitent of thair misdeidisattrib. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 25.
To al trew penitent and faithful persones 1588 King Catechism 166.
Pænitent
2. Regretful, dissatisfied, repining.Chiefly const. of a matter or person.(1) 1533 Bell. Livy I. 36/3.
Gif ȝe be penitent & forthinkis the affinite new contrakkit amang ȝow [etc.](2) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 171.
Quhairthrou ȝe haif na caus to be penitent of me ȝour capitane nor I of ȝow my wailȝeant knychtis1531 Bell. Boece (1821) II. 315. 1533 Id. Livy I. 216/32.
Nochttheles be … lichtnes of thare myndis thai wer sone eftir penitent of thare peace contractit [etc.] 1533 Ib. II. 188/16.
Ȝe sall nocht be penitent of our faith nor we sal nocht be penitent of ȝoure empire 1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/28.
I confesse me to haue wryttin the samin tractate and na thing penitent thairof as ȝit(3) 1531 Bell. Boece. I. 171.
The capitanis on athir side war penitent that thair army junit that day
3. absol. and noun. A penitent; a repentant sinner; a person undergoing ecclesiastical penance. c1450-2 Howlat 866 (A).
Thus pray thai as penitentis [B. penitent] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 24/4.
The prest suld … iniune pennance with the consent of the penitent 1533 Boece ix. xiv. 323.
Ferquhard … maid derisioun at bapteme and auriculare confessioun of the penitent to the preist 1562-3 Winȝet I. 80/13.
The keis for absolutioun to the pœnitent 1562-3 Ib. 124 h. of ch.
Gif ony temporall panis remanis to a penitent resauit to mercy [etc.] 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiv. 58.
Gif no refudge ane man may win The penitent for helpe may sterue 1641 Alyth Par. Ch. 69.
Because the foirsaid thre penitents behaluiour on the stoole wis vnreuerent ey casting downe stonis at the pepill [etc.]
b. Penitentis saiet, and c. Penitent-stule, the (elevated and prominently situated) seat occupied by a sinner undergoing public penance in the church.b. 1573 St. A. Kirk S. 385.
The said William twa several Sundaiis … to sit upon the hieest of the penitentis saiet in sekclaithtc. 1563–4 St. A. Kirk S. 191.
To syt upon the penitent stull duryng the tym of the sermon 1564 Ib. 225. 1589 Crail B. Ct. MS. 25 Nov.
The said Thomas … to present him self to the penitent stoole within the peroche kirk at the thrid bell 1594 St. A. Kirk S. 785.
Upon the hichest degre of the penitent stuill
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"Penitent adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/penitent_adj_n>
