contrite

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   feeling deep remorse for wrongdoing

   He wrote a contrite letter begging their forgiveness.

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.

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