mea culpa

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me·a cul·pa

(mā′ə ko͝ol′pə, kŭl′-, mē′ə)
n.
An acknowledgment of a personal error or fault: The authors issued a mea culpa after their plagiarism was revealed.
interj.
Used to express guilt for a personal error or fault.
[Latin meā culpā, through my fault : meā, feminine ablative of meus, my + culpā, ablative of culpa, fault.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mea culpa

(ˈmeɪɑː ˈkʊlpɑː)
an acknowledgment of guilt
[literally: my fault]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

me•a cul•pa

(ˈmɛ ɑ ˈkʊl pɑ; Eng. ˈmeɪ ə ˈkʌl pə)
Latin. through my fault (used as an acknowledgment of personal error).
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

mea culpa

A Latin phrase meaning my fault, used to acknowledge guilt, especially in Roman Catholic ritual.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.mea culpa - an acknowledgment of your error or guiltmea culpa - an acknowledgment of your error or guilt
acknowledgement, acknowledgment - a statement acknowledging something or someone; "she must have seen him but she gave no sign of acknowledgment"; "the preface contained an acknowledgment of those who had helped her"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

mea culpa

noun
A statement of acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon:
apology, excuse, regret (used in plural).
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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References in classic literature ?
MEA CULPA, MEA CULPA." He had had a classical education.
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Then she cried, "Ahem!" under cover of the MEA CULPA, striking her breast so vigorously that everybody, even the lady with the red cushion, turned round toward her.
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NASDAQ is pacing the bounce, while Zuckerberg's Congressional testimony was released with the predicted detailed "mea culpas" on the data scandal and vow to put users ahead of profits.
Equities extended their rebound
If the first was this limp acknowledgement, then we can look forward to a string of these soft mea culpas -- a series of some length judging from the number of catastrophic mistakes Obama has made throughout his presidency.
U.S. jungle of failure
In other words, dole out those "mea culpas" to any and everybody.
Starting from scratch
Both monstrous episodes fully deserved official mea culpas yet the terrible wrongs occurred before he was PM.
A TRULY SORRY STATE
Mel's argument was that it was four years ago, and that he'd moved on, and "done all the necessary mea culpas".
Fallen hero has to mind his language
The world needs no more mea culpas. The people of Darfur cannot endure one more mea culpa; many of them may not be able to endure one more day.
Never again, yet again: unless action replaces delay, our denunciations of genocide are nothing but talk
Duke Cunningham was reciting mea culpas on television.
The pruner: is Rep. Jeff Flake the House's John McCain?
Publicly expressed mea culpas and sincere repentance are preferable.
Dignity restored. (Letters)
They can try to placate or appease the list maker with a series of "mea culpas" and hope that the list maker removes them out of the kindness of his or her heart.
The black hole of death: beware, it could engulf you

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