penance

pen·ance

A priest entering a confessional so that he can advise sinners of their penance.

noun

Penance is self-punishment done to try to right a wrong, or the receipt of absolution from sins from a priest by fulfilling some requirement.

An example of penance is when you publicly try to make up for your misdeeds.
An example of penance is when you confess to a priest and are forgiven.
An example of penance is when you say ten Hail Marys to earn forgiveness.

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"penance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/penance>.

APA Style

penance. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/penance

penance

1. a sacrament involving the confession of sin, repentance, and acceptance of the satisfaction imposed, followed by absolution by a priest
2. the satisfaction imposed, as the recital of certain prayers
any act of reparation, self-punishment, etc. done in repentance for a sin or wrongdoing

Origin of penance

Middle English from Old French peneance from Classical Latin paenitentia, poenitentia from paenitens: see penitent

transitive verb

-·anced, -·anc·ing

Archaic to impose a penance on

penance Idioms

do penance

to do one or more acts of penance

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"penance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/penance>.

APA Style

penance. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/penance

penance

noun

An act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin or other wrongdoing.
Penance A sacrament in some Christian churches that includes contrition, confession to a priest, acceptance of punishment, and absolution. Also called reconciliation .

transitive verb

pen·anced, pen·anc·ing, pen·anc·es

To impose penance upon.

Origin of penance

Middle English from Old French from Latin paenitentia penitence from paenitēns paenitent- penitent ; see penitent .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"penance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/penance>.

APA Style

penance. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/penance

Noun

(plural penances)

A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
A sacrament in some Christian churches.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present penances, present participle penancing, simple past and past participle penanced)