penance

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈpɛn.əns/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

penance (countable and uncountable, plural penances)

  1. A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
    • Coleridge
      Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do."
  2. A sacrament in some Christian churches.
  3. Any instrument of self-punishment.
  4. (obsolete) repentance
  5. (obsolete) pain; sorrow; suffering
    • Chaucer
      Joy or penance he feeleth none.

Synonyms
▼ <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_terms_derived_from_the_PIE_root_*peh%E2%82%81-' title='Category:English terms derived from the PIE root *peh₁-'>English terms derived from the PIE root *peh₁-</a>‎ (0 c, 22 e)
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/fend' title='fend'>fend</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/fiend' title='fiend'>fiend</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/impassive' title='impassive'>impassive</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/impatience' title='impatience'>impatience</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passion' title='passion'>passion</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passionate' title='passionate'>passionate</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passive' title='passive'>passive</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/passivity' title='passivity'>passivity</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/patience' title='patience'>patience</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/patient' title='patient'>patient</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penance' title='penance'>penance</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitence' title='penitence'>penitence</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitent' title='penitent'>penitent</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitente' title='penitente'>penitente</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitential' title='penitential'>penitential</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitentially' title='penitentially'>penitentially</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitentiary' title='penitentiary'>penitentiary</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/penitently' title='penitently'>penitently</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repent' title='repent'>repent</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repentance' title='repentance'>repentance</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repentant' title='repentant'>repentant</a>
  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/repentantly' title='repentantly'>repentantly</a>

Translations

Verb

penance (third-person singular simple present penances, present participle penancing, simple past and past participle penanced)

  1. To impose penance; to punish.
    • Keats
      Some penanced lady elf.
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