expiator

The priest served as the expiator for the community's sins.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • One who makes amends: "expiator" refers to a person who atones for or makes reparation for a wrong, sin, or offense. This individual performs an act of expiation to restore moral balance or seek forgiveness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ancient ritual required an expiator to offer a sacrifice for the community's sins. (A person designated to atone for collective wrongdoing.)
  • In the story, the hero becomes an expiator, taking on the guilt of his family to bring them peace. (A character who makes amends for others' faults.)

Advanced Usage

• "Expiator of guilt": a specific phrase emphasizing the role of removing or neutralizing blame.

  • The priest acted as an expiator of guilt, absolving the penitent through prayer. (The priest's role was to remove the person's sense of guilt.)

• "Expiator through sacrifice": a concept in religious or moral contexts where atonement is achieved by offering something valuable.

  • In some traditions, the expiator through sacrifice was seen as a mediator between humanity and the divine. (The expiator used a sacrifice to achieve atonement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Expiation (n): the act of making amends or atoning for a wrong.

  • His donation to the charity was an act of expiation for his past mistakes. (A concrete action to atone for wrongdoing.)

• Expiatory (adj): relating to or serving as expiation.

  • The expiatory ritual was performed annually to cleanse the village. (The ritual was intended to atone.)

• Expiate (v): to atone for or make amends for a wrong.

  • She sought to expiate her betrayal by helping the community. (She tried to make up for her betrayal through action.)

Synonyms

• Atoner: one who makes amends for a fault or injury.
• Penitent: a person who feels or expresses regret for wrongdoing and seeks forgiveness.
  • Note: "Penitent" focuses on the feeling of regret, while "expiator" emphasizes the action of making amends.

Related Idioms

• "To be an expiator of one's own sins": to personally atone for one's own wrongs.

  • He saw his years of service as a way to be an expiator of his own sins. (He used service to make amends for his own past misdeeds.)

• "Expiator for the many": a person who atones for the wrongs of a group.

  • In mythology, the scapegoat is often an expiator for the many, taking on the collective guilt. (The scapegoat bears the sins of the group.)