penitent

penitent
    adj 1: feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds [syn:
           {penitent}, {repentant}] [ant: {impenitent},
           {unremorseful}, {unrepentant}]
    n 1: (Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing
         (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the
         direction of a confessor)
    

Penitent \Pen"i*tent\, a. [F. p['e]nitent, L. paenitens, -entis,
   poenitens, p. pr. of paenitere, poenitere, to cause to
   repent, to repent; prob. akin to poena punishment. See
   {Pain}.]
   1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses;
      repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of
      guilt, and resolved on amendment of life.
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            Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite. --Milton.
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            The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. Doing penance. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Penitent \Pen"i*tent\, n.
   1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his
      transgressions.
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   2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one
      undergoing penance.
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   3. One under the direction of a confessor.
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   Note: Penitents is an appellation given to certain
         fraternities in Roman Catholic countries, distinguished
         by their habit, and employed in charitable acts.
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PENITENT, adj.  Undergoing or awaiting punishment.
    

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "penitent":
      Magdalen, abject, apologetic, compunctious, confessor,
      conscience-stricken, contrite, grief-stricken, humbled, melted,
      penitential, penitentiary, prodigal returned, prodigal son,
      regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sad, sheepish, softened,
      sorrowful, sorry, touched