penance

Etymology

From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“penitence”). Doublet of penitence.

noun

  1. A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
  2. A sacrament in some Christian churches.
  3. Any instrument of self-punishment.
  4. (obsolete) repentance
  5. (obsolete) pain; sorrow; suffering

verb

  1. To impose penance; to punish.

Attribution / Disclaimer All definitions come directly from Wiktionary using the Wiktextract library. We do not edit or curate the definitions for any words, if you feel the definition listed is incorrect or offensive please suggest modifications directly to the source (wiktionary/penance), any changes made to the source will update on this page periodically.