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atonement
[ uh-tohn-muhnt ]
/ əˈtoʊn mənt /
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noun
satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.
(sometimes initial capital letter)Theology. the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.
Christian Science. the experience of humankind's unity with God exemplified by Jesus Christ.
Archaic. reconciliation; agreement.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of atonement
First recorded in 1505–15; from phrase at one, at oon “in harmony” + -ment, as translation of Medieval Latin adūnāmentum; compare Middle English onement “unity”
Words nearby atonement
atonality, at once, atone, at one blow, at one fell swoop, atonement, at one's, at one's best, at one's convenience, at one's door, at one's ease
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use atonement in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for atonement
atonement
/ (əˈtəʊnmənt) /
noun
satisfaction, reparation, or expiation given for an injury or wrong
(often capital) Christian theol
- the reconciliation of man with God through the life, sufferings, and sacrificial death of Christ
- the sufferings and death of Christ
Christian Science the state in which the attributes of God are exemplified in man
obsolete reconciliation or agreement
Word Origin for atonement
C16: from Middle English phrase at onement in harmony
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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