contrite

The definition of contrite is feeling or expressing sorrow or regret.

(adjective)

An example of contrite is the feeling of someone who feels terribly about committing a sin.

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See contrite in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. feeling contrition; repentant
  2. showing or resulting from contrition

Origin: ME contrit < OFr < LL(Ec) contritus, lit., worn out, ground to pieces, pp. of L conterere, to grind < com-, together + terere, to rub: see throw

Related Forms:

See contrite in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent.
  2. Arising from or expressing contrition: contrite words.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English contrit

Origin: , from Latin contrītus

Origin: , past participle of conterere, to crush

Origin: : com-, com-

Origin: + terere, to grind; see terə-1 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • con·triteˈly adverb
  • con·triteˈness noun

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