penance

[ pen-uhns ]

noun

1. a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.
2. a penitential discipline imposed by church authority.
3. a sacrament, as in the Roman Catholic Church, consisting in a confession of sin, made with sorrow and with the intention of amendment, followed by the forgiveness of the sin.

penance

/ ˈpɛnəns /

noun

1. voluntary self-punishment to atone for a sin, crime, etc
2. a feeling of regret for one's wrongdoings
3. Christianity
   1. a punishment usually consisting of prayer, fasting, etc, undertaken voluntarily as an expression of penitence for sin
   2. a punishment of this kind imposed by church authority as a condition of absolution

verb

1. tr (of ecclesiastical authorities) to impose a penance upon (a sinner)

penance

1. Acts done to make up for sin. ( See confession and indulgence .)

Other Words From

• penance·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of penance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-French; Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia penitence

Word History and Origins

Origin of penance¹

C13: via Old French from Latin paenitentia repentance; related to Latin poena penalty

Example Sentences

The Pontiff will travel to Canada on Sunday for a week-long tour of the country on what he has described as a “pilgrimage of penance.”

From Time

All eyes are now on McCarthy to see how far he’ll chase penance.

From TIme

In our yearly pilgrimage from the seeming penance of winter to the obvious glories of spring, some days seem as much about the journey as the destination, and Saturday seemed to be one of those voyaging days.

From Washington Post

To the world, I was fat and unfit and had to go to the gym as penance.

From Vox

Those who have somehow broken the laws of this country remain in some of them and this is their abode of penance.

From Washington Blade

It is will always be my penance now always to believe that I didn't do enough for my friend.

From The Daily Beast

Penance is available at the Newsstand, Miami and at alldayeveryday.com for $45—$500.

From The Daily Beast

“The pain is her penance,” says one of them, amid the screams of labor.

From The Daily Beast

Pay your penance while demonstrating a commitment to public service.

From The Daily Beast

The company will be forced to endure penance not only for the spill, but paradoxically for the sunflower.

From The Daily Beast

I attended, and hearkened; no man speaketh what is good, there is none that doth penance for his sin, saying: What have I done?

From Project Gutenberg

It seemed to him as if no punishment or penance could atone for such deception and for so great a crime.

From Project Gutenberg

Many a fish is mad after the bait; but when he is hooked, he finds his penance, even though the line should break.

From Project Gutenberg

The Church adjudged Simone heretic, and condemned her for salutary penance to the bread of suffering and the water of affliction.

From Project Gutenberg

And you look as if you were doing penance, or something—you've got such a superior expression!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absolution
• atonement
• contrition
• forgiveness
• penitence
• remorse
• repentance
• retribution