penance

Meanings

Plural: penances

Noun

remorse for your past conduct
a Catholic sacrament; repentance and confession and atonement and absolution
voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing
A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
A sacrament in some Christian churches that involves penitence (remorse plus restitution via prayer).
Any instrument of self-punishment.
repentance
pain; sorrow; suffering

Verb

To impose penance; to punish.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”). Doublet of penitence.

Synonyms

atonement, penitence, repentance, self-abasement, self-mortification

Scrabble Score: 11

penance is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
penance is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
penance is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

penance is a valid Words With Friends word