penance
UK: ˈpɛnəns | US: ˈpɛnəns
n. voluntary self-punishment or suffering to atone for wrongdoing
n. a religious act of repentance, often prescribed by a priest
n. an expression of regret or remorse
The word "penance" traces back to the Latin poena (meaning "punishment" or "penalty"), which also gave rise to words like "pain" and "penalty." The suffix -ance was added in Old French (penance) to form a noun indicating a state or action. Over time, the meaning shifted from general punishment to specifically voluntary acts of atonement, often in a religious context. The logic reflects a progression from external penalty to internalized remorse.
He performed acts of penance to seek forgiveness for his mistakes.
The priest assigned her a week of fasting as penance.
Her quiet penance showed genuine remorse.
In medieval times, public penance was common for serious sins.
He viewed his hard labor as a form of penance for past laziness.