Contriteness

con·trite  (kn-trt, kntrt)

adj.

1. Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent.

2. Arising from or expressing contrition: contrite words.

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[Middle English contrit, from Latin contrtus, past participle of conterere, to crush : com-, com- + terere, to grind; see ter-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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con·tritely adv.

con·triteness n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

contriteness - sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation contrition, attrition regret, ruefulness, sorrow, rue - sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment; "he drank to drown his sorrows"; "he wrote a note expressing his regret"; "to his rue, the error cost him the game"