expiate

To expiate is defined as to admit you did something that was a sin or something you feel guilty about.

(verb)

When you feel guilty about a lie you told, and you come clean and ask for forgiveness, this is an example of a time when you expiate.

See expiate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb expiated, expiating

Origin: < L expiatus, pp. of expiare, to make satisfaction or atonement < ex-, out + piare, to appease, akin to pius, pious

Related Forms:

See expiate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb ex·pi·at·ed, ex·pi·at·ing, ex·pi·ates

verb, transitive

To make amends or reparation for; atone: expiate one's sins by acts of penance.

verb, intransitive

To make amends; atone.

Origin:

Origin: Latin expiāre, expiāt-

Origin: : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex-

Origin: + piāre, to atone (from pius, devout)

Related Forms:

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