penance
/'penəns/
Definition
- Noun:
- Voluntary self-punishment for wrongdoing: An act of self-mortification or devotion performed to show sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and to seek atonement.
- A sacrament in some Christian churches: In Roman Catholic and some other Christian traditions, a sacrament involving repentance, confession, and acts to make amends, leading to absolution.
- An expression of regret or remorse: A feeling or demonstration of sincere regret for past misdeeds.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He performed acts of penance to seek forgiveness for his mistakes.
- In the sacrament of penance, the believer confesses sins to a priest.
- She felt deep penance for the harsh words she had spoken.
Advanced Usage
- "to do penance": To perform an act of self-punishment or devotion as an expression of repentance.
- The pilgrim vowed to do penance by walking barefoot to the shrine.
- "as a penance": Serving as a punishment or act of atonement.
- He was assigned community service as a penance for his offense.
Variants and Related Words
- Penitence (n): The state of being penitent; regret for one's wrongdoing.
- His face showed genuine penitence.
- Penitential (adj): Relating to or expressing penitence or penance.
- The season of Lent is a penitential period.
- Penitent (n/adj): (A person) feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.
- The penitent sinner sought reconciliation.
Synonyms
- Atonement: Making amends for a wrong or sin.
- Repentance: Sincere regret or remorse for one's wrongdoing.
- Contrition: The state of feeling remorseful and penitent.
Related Phrases
- "Penance and absolution": The process of atoning for sins and receiving formal forgiveness, especially in a sacramental context.
- The doctrine emphasizes the cycle of penance and absolution.
- "Act of penance": A specific task or suffering undertaken to show repentance.
- Fasting was his chosen act of penance.
Related Idioms
- "Wear a hair shirt": To lead an austere life as a form of penance or self-punishment. (This idiom conveys a similar concept of self-imposed hardship for atonement.)
- After the scandal, he metaphorically wore a hair shirt, avoiding all luxury.
Noun
-
voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing
-
a Catholic sacrament; repentance and confession and atonement and absolution
-
remorse for your past conduct
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