penance

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• Any instrument of self-punishment.
• repentance
• pain; sorrow; suffering

Verb

• To impose penance; to punish.

Related

Similar words

• penitence
• atonement

Origin

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