English

Adjective

pœnitent ‎(comparative more pœnitent, superlative most pœnitent)

1. Archaic spelling of penitent.
   • 1833 CE, T. B. Hone, Lives of Eminent Christians, in The British Critic, volume XV, article VIII, page #167:

     But whether so great a degree of these be restored to the pœnitent, as is secured to the just man that needs no repentance, I have no ground from scripture to determine.

Noun

pœnitent ‎(plural pœnitents)

1. Archaic spelling of penitent.

Usage notes

• Sometimes considered incorrect, but this form would not be inconsistent with ποινή, a possible ascendant.