penance

pen·ance  (pnns)

n.

1. An act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin or other wrongdoing.

2. A sacrament in some Christian churches that includes contrition, confession to a priest, acceptance of punishment, and absolution. Also called reconciliation.

tr.v. pen·anced, pen·anc·ing, pen·anc·es

To impose penance upon.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin paenitentia, penitence, from paenitns, paenitent-, penitent; see penitent.]

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penance

Noun

1. voluntary self-punishment to make amends for a sin

2. RC Church a sacrament in which repentant sinners are forgiven provided they confess their sins to a priest and perform a penance [Latin paenitentia repentance]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	penance - remorse for your past conduct penitence, repentance compunction, remorse, self-reproach - a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
	2.	penance - a Catholic sacrament; repentance and confession and atonement and absolution remission of sin, absolution, remittal, remission - the act of absolving or remitting; formal redemption as pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of penance sacrament - a formal religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it; the two Protestant ceremonies are baptism and the Lord's Supper; in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church there are seven traditional rites accepted as instituted by Jesus: baptism and confirmation and Holy Eucharist and penance and holy orders and matrimony and extreme unction confession - (Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent disclosing his sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of penance in the hope of absolution
	3.	penance - voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing self-abasement, self-mortification penalisation, penalization, penalty, punishment - the act of punishing

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penance

noun atonement, punishment, penalty, reparation, expiation, sackcloth and ashes, self-punishment, self-mortification

Translations

penance [ˈpɛnəns] n → penitencia

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penance [ˈpɛnəns] n → pénitence f

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penance [ˈpɛnəns] n (Rel);

to do penance for one's sins → für seine Sünden Buße tun

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penance [ˈpɛnəns] n → penitenza