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:
penancesIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Penance
- do penance
Origin of Penance
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Middle English from Old French from Latin paenitentia penitence from paenitēns paenitent- penitent penitent
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“penitence").
From Wiktionary
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