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Definitions for Penance

[1] a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.
[2] a penitential discipline imposed by church authority.
[3] a sacrament, as in the Roman Catholic Church, consisting in a confession of sin, made with sorrow and with the intention of amendment, followed by the forgiveness of the sin.
[4] voluntary self-punishment to atone for a sin, crime, etc
[5] a feeling of regret for one's wrongdoings
[6] Christianity a punishment usually consisting of prayer, fasting, etc, undertaken voluntarily as an expression of penitence for sin a punishment of this kind imposed by church authority as a condition of absolution
[7] (tr) (of ecclesiastical authorities) to impose a penance upon (a sinner)

Words related to Penance

retribution, penitence, repentance, contrition, remorse, atonement, forgiveness, absolution, compunction, mortification, sorrow, confession, compensation, rue, penalty, suffering, purgation, attrition, ruth, punishment

Words nearby Penance

penalty point, penalty rates, penalty shoot-out, penalty shot, penalty stroke, penance, penang, penannular, penates, pence, pencel

Origin of Penance

1250–1300; Middle English penaunce < Anglo-French; Old French peneance < Latin paenitentia penitence

Words that may be confused with Penance

penance, pennants

Other words from Penance

pen·ance·less , adjective

Word origin for Penance

C13: via Old French from Latin paenitentia repentance; related to Latin poena penalty

Synonyms for Penance

absolution, atonement, contrition, forgiveness, penitence, remorse, repentance, retribution, attrition, compensation, compunction, confession, expiation, mortification, penalty, punishment, purgation, rue, ruth, self-flagellation, shrift, sorrow, suffering, hair shirt, remorsefulness, sackcloth and ashes