penance
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.something you do to show you are sorry for a mistake or a bad action.
n.a voluntary self-imposed punishment or act of reparation for a sinful act or wrongdoing.
Simple“He worked at the homeless shelter for a month as penance for his rude behavior.”
In context“The disgraced executive performed a public penance by donating his entire bonus to the charities he had previously defrauded.”
UsageOften used with the verb 'do' or 'perform'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a religious ceremony where you admit your sins and ask for forgiveness.
n.a sacrament in certain Christian denominations involving contrition, confession to a priest, and the performance of assigned acts of devotion.
Simple“The priest told him to say ten prayers as his penance after confession.”
In context“In many liturgical traditions, the sacrament of penance is considered essential for the restoration of grace after a serious transgression.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the sacrament itself; countable when referring to the specific task assigned.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to give someone a punishment to make them show they are sorry.
v.to impose a penance upon someone; to subject an individual to a task intended to show repentance.
Simple“The monk was penanced with a week of silence for breaking the rules.”
In context“The historical records show that the bishop penanced the knight by ordering him to walk barefoot to the cathedral.”
UsageUsually occurs in the passive voice.
Synonyms
From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”). Doublet of penitence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.