penance

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
11
Words With Friends
15
Letters
7
Pronunciation
/ˈpɛn.əns/

Definition of penance

6 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

noun

  1. (countable, uncountable)A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
    “Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do."”
See all 6 definitions

noun

  1. (countable, uncountable)A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
    “Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do."”
  2. (countable, uncountable)A sacrament in some Christian churches that involves penitence (remorse plus restitution via prayer).
  3. (countable, uncountable)Any instrument of self-punishment.
  4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)repentance
  5. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)pain; sorrow; suffering

verb

  1. To impose penance; to punish.
    “She seem'd, at once, some penanced lady elf, / Some demon mistress, or the demon's self.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”). Doublet of penitence.

Hooks

2 extensions · 2 back

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