penance

Definitions


[ˈpɛnəns], (Noun)

Definitions:
- punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing
(e.g: he had done public penance for those hasty words)

- a sacrament in which a member of the Church confesses sins to a priest and is given absolution


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin paenitentia ‘repentance’, from the verb paenitere ‘be sorry’


[ˈpɛnəns], (Verb)

Definitions:
- impose a penance on
(e.g: the Bishop penanced him severely for his conduct)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin paenitentia ‘repentance’, from the verb paenitere ‘be sorry’




definition by Oxford Dictionaries