penitence

noun

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.

1. 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”

   “As for the moral turpitude that man unveiled to me, even with tears of penitence, I cannot, even in memory, dwell on it without a start of horror.”