Penance Definition

pĕnəns
penanced, penances, penancing
noun
penances
A sacrament involving the confession of sin, repentance, and acceptance of the satisfaction imposed, followed by absolution by a priest.
Webster's New World
The satisfaction imposed, as the recital of certain prayers.
Webster's New World
Any act of reparation, self-punishment, etc. done in repentance for a sin or wrongdoing.
Webster's New World
verb
To impose a penance on.
Webster's New World
idiom
do penance
  • to do one or more acts of penance
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Penance

Noun

Singular:
penance
Plural:
penances

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Penance

  • do penance

Origin of Penance

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin paenitentia penitence from paenitēns paenitent- penitent penitent

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“penitence").

    From Wiktionary

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