Standard Lemma guide

penitente

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A tall thin blade of hardened snow or ice, found closely spaced in large quantities at high altitudes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish penitente, from the resemblance to white-hooded monks, from Latin paenĭtens, from paeniteō. Doublet of penitent.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Büßerschnee — A tall thin blade of hardened snow or ice, found closely spaced in large quantities at high altitudes
  • German: Zackenfirn — A tall thin blade of hardened snow or ice, found closely spaced in large quantities at high altitudes
  • Polish: penitent — A tall thin blade of hardened snow or ice, found closely spaced in large quantities at high altitudes
  • Russian: кальгаспор (kalʹgaspor) — A tall thin blade of hardened snow or ice, found closely spaced in large quantities at high altitudes