contrite
[kuh n-trahyt, kon-trahyt]
- caused by or showing sincere remorse.
- filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent: a contrite sinner.
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Origin of contrite
Synonyms
See more synonyms for contrite on Thesaurus.com2. rueful, remorseful, repentant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for contritely
Contemporary Examples
You have fully and contritely admitted the problem, which is more than Lance could manage.
Historical Examples
"I'll not say another personal word," he murmured, contritely.
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
“I hope you will humbly pardon me, Mr. Burns,” he said contritely.
Philo Gubb Correspondence-School DetectiveEllis Parker Butler
Florian looked up at her contritely, and smiled his winning smile.
GigoloEdna Ferber
"Sylvie, I had no idea things would be like that," he told her contritely.
The Cosmic ComputerHenry Beam Piper
"Say, hold your hosses, Markham," said Hartridge contritely.
Sundry AccountsIrvin S. Cobb
contrite
- full of guilt or regret; remorseful
- arising from a sense of shame or guiltcontrite promises
- theol remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin contrītus worn out, from conterere to bruise, from terere to grind
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for contritely
contrite
adj.
c.1300, from Old French contrit and directly from Latin contritus, literally "worn out, ground to pieces," past participle of conterere "to grind," from com- "together" (see com-) + terere "to rub" (see throw (v.)). Used in English in figurative sense of "crushed in spirit by a sense of sin." Related: Contritely.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper