penance
penance definition
pen·ance (pen′əns)
noun
- R.C.Ch., Eastern Orthodox Ch.
- a sacrament involving the confession of sin, repentance, and acceptance of the satisfaction imposed, followed by absolution by a priest
- the satisfaction imposed, as the recital of certain prayers
- any act of reparation, self-punishment, etc. done in repentance for a sin or wrongdoing
Etymology: ME < OFr peneance < L paenitentia, poenitentia < paenitens: see penitent
penance Idioms
do penance
to do one or more acts of penance
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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