contrition Hear it!

contrition definition

con·tri·tion (kən tris̸h′ən)

noun

  1. remorse for having done wrong
  2. Theol. sorrow for having offended God: perfect contrition is such sorrow arising out of pure love of God

Etymology: ME contricioun < OFr contrition < LL(Ec) contritio, grief: see contrite

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.