atonement
UK: əˈtəʊnmənt | US: əˈtoʊnmənt
n. the act of making amends for a wrong or injury; reparation
n. (theology) reconciliation between God and humanity through the sacrificial death of Christ
The word "atonement" originates from the early 16th century phrase "at one," reflecting the idea of being "at one" or in harmony. The verb "atone" emerged by blending "at" and "one," later formalized with the suffix "-ment" to denote the state or act of reconciliation. The theological sense developed from the concept of restoring unity between humanity and the divine.
She sought atonement for her mistakes by volunteering at the shelter.
The ritual symbolized spiritual atonement and renewal.
His apology was a step toward atonement, but trust needed time to rebuild.
In Christianity, Christ's sacrifice is central to the doctrine of atonement.
The community demanded atonement from the company for the environmental damage.