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Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class VI. Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
Section IV. Moral Affections
3. Moral Conditions

950. Penitence.

   NOUN:PENITENCE, contrition, compunction, repentance, remorse; regret [See Regret].
  self-reproach, self-reproof, self-accusation, self-condemnation, self-humiliation; stings -, pangs -, qualms -, prickings -, twinge -, twitch -, touch -, voice- of conscience; “compunctious visitings of nature” [Macbeth].
  acknowledgment, confession (disclosure) [See Disclosure]; apology [See Atonement]; recantation [See Tergiversation]; penance [See Atonement]; resipiscence [rare].
  awakened conscience, deathbed repentance, locus pænitentiæ [L.], stool of repentance, cutty stool [Scot.], mourners’ bench [local, U. S.].
  PENITENT, repentant [rare], Magdalen, prodigal son, returned prodigal, “a sadder and a wiser man” [Coleridge].
   VERB:REPENT, be sorry for; be penitent &c. adj.; rue; regret [See Regret]; think better of; recant [See Tergiversation]; knock under (submit) [See Submission]; plead guilty; sing -miserere, – de profundis [L.]; cry peccavi [L.]; say culpâ meâ [L.], own oneself in the wrong; acknowledge, confess (disclose) [See Disclosure]; humble oneself; beg pardon (apologize) [See Atonement]; turn over a new leaf, put on the new man, turn from sin; repent in sackcloth and ashes &c. (do penance) [See Atonement]; learn by experience.
  RECLAIM, reform, regenerate, redeem, convert, amend, set straight again, make a new man of, restore self -respect.
   ADJECTIVE:PENITENT; repenting &c. v.; repentant, contrite, softened, melted, touched; conscience-smitten, conscience-stricken; self-accusing, self-convicted.
  penitential, penitentiary; reclaimed; not hardened; unhardened.
   ADVERB:meâ culpâ [L.]; de profundis [L.].
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. Peccavi; erubuit; salva res est.—Terence
  2. Vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin.—Molière
  3. And wet his grave with my repentant tears.—Richard III
  4. Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before I swore—but was I sober when I swore?—Omar Khayyám—Fitzgerald
  5. Amid the roses, fierce Repentance rears her snaky crest.—Thomson
  6. He who is penitent is almost innocent.—Seneca