contrite

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   feeling deep remorse for wrongdoing

   He wrote a contrite letter begging their forgiveness.

Simplified etymology

Contrite entered Middle English from Latin contritus, “ground down,” formed from con-, “together,” and terere, “to rub or grind.” Its meaning became “remorseful” through the religious image of a person’s spirit being crushed or broken by awareness of sin.

From Latin contritus ('worn out, bruised'), past participle of conterere ('to grind down, wear away'), from con- (intensive) + terere ('to rub, grind'); the moral sense 'crushed by guilt' arose in ecclesiastical Latin.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary