PENANCE Definition & Meaning

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penance

[ pen-uhns ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.
a penitential discipline imposed by church authority.
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.

penance

/ ˈ��ɛ��ə�Բ� /

voluntary self-punishment to atone for a sin, crime, etc
a feeling of regret for one's wrongdoings
Christianity
1. a punishment usually consisting of prayer, fasting, etc, undertaken voluntarily as an expression of penitence for sin
2. a punishment of this kind imposed by church authority as a condition of absolution

penance

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Origin of penance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-French; Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia penitence

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Origin of penance¹

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

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Examples have not been reviewed.

“It was perhaps my penance for having voted for the devil,” he added, shyly admitting to having voted for Duterte.

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"Because Friday was the day of the crucifixion, Fridays were always regarded as a day of penance and abstinence," he said.

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The temple, meanwhile, said it had done its own penance.

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In a previous email, Mr. Cook said that Mr. Simpson “died without penance.”

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Cook, their attorney, said that Simpson “died without penance.”

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