Penitente

noun

Pen·​i·​ten·​te

ˌpenəˈtentā,

-tē

plural Penitentes

-ās,

-ēz

: a member of a religious society of Flagellants in Spanish-American communities of the southwestern U.S. (as New Mexico) who practice self-whipping and other forms of penitential torture particularly during Holy Week

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, literally, penitent, singular of Penitentes Penitents, short for Los Hermanos Penitentes The Penitent Brothers, religious society that originated in Mexico

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