penance JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/ˈpɛn.əns/ · pen·ance
noun
- A voluntary self‑imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing, intended as reparation. He performed a year of fasting as penance for his harsh words.
- A sacrament in some Christian churches, especially the rite of confession and satisfaction. After confessing his sins, the priest assigned him penance.
- Any instrument or act used for self‑punishment. The wooden cross served as his penance during the pilgrimage.
verb
- To impose or undergo penance; to punish oneself or others as reparation for wrongdoing. She penanced herself by volunteering at the shelter every weekend.
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Antonyms
Did you know? In medieval Europe, penance often involved public acts such as wearing a hair shirt or carrying a wooden cross, and the term gave rise to the phrase “penance of the cross,” referring to the suffering of Christ.