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| pen·ance [ pénnənss ] |
noun (plural pen·anc·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. self-punishment for sin: self-punishment or an act of religious devotion performed to show sorrow for having committed a sin
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2. duty imposed by priest: a duty or religious devotion imposed by a priest during the sacrament of confession in some Christian churches
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3. Christian sacrament of reconciliation: a sacrament in some Christian churches in which a person confesses sins to a priest and is forgiven after performing a religious devotion or duty such as praying or fasting
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transitive verb (past and past participle pen·anced, present participle pen·anc·ing, 3rd person present singular pen·anc·es) |
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| Definition: |
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impose penance on somebody: to make somebody do penance for a sin
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| [13th century. Via French< Latin paenitentia "regret" < paenitere "to regret"] |
