attritional

at·tri·tion  (-trshn)

n.

1. A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.

2. A gradual diminution in number or strength because of constant stress.

3. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.

4. Repentance for sin motivated by fear of punishment rather than by love of God.

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[Middle English attricioun, regret, breaking, from Old French attrition, abrasion, from Late Latin attrti, attrtin-, act of rubbing against, from Latin attrtus, past participle of atterere, to rub against : ad-, against; see ad- + terere, to rub; see ter-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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at·trition·al adj.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

attritional - relating to or caused by attrition