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atone

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The definition of atone is to make good on a past wrongdoing.

(verb)

Contacting a past romantic partner and apologizing for cheating is an example of atone.

See atone in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb atoned, atoning

to make amends or reparation (for a wrongdoing, a wrongdoer, etc.)
Obsolete to be in agreement

Origin: ME at-onen, become reconciled < at one, in accord: see at & one

transitive verb

to make amends for; expiate
to bring into agreement; reconcile

See atone in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb a·toned, a·ton·ing, a·tones

verb, intransitive

To make amends, as for a sin or fault: These crimes must be atoned for.
Archaic To agree.

verb, transitive

To expiate.
Archaic To conciliate; appease: “So heaven, atoned, shall dying Greece restore” (Alexander Pope).
Obsolete To reconcile or harmonize.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English atonen, to be reconciled

Origin: , from at one, in agreement

Origin: : at, at; see at ¹

Origin: + one, one; see one

Related Forms:

a·tonˈa·ble, a·toneˈa·ble adjective

a·tonˈer noun

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