penance C1 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈpɛn.əns/ See IPA manual Freq #12854 Meanings 1 noun A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act. Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do.". 2 verb To impose penance; to punish. She seem'd, at once, some penanced lady elf, / Some demon mistress, or the demon's self. 3 noun a Catholic sacrament 4 noun voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing Thesaurus Synonyms 2 verb · to impose penance; to punish. amercecastigatechastenchastisecome down oncorrectfix someone's wagongive it to someone 3 noun · a catholic sacrament anointing of the sickextreme unctionlast rites 4 noun · voluntary self-punishment... self-abasementself-mortification More atonementpenitence Word family Derived forms penancelessunpenanced Etymology From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”). Doublet of penitence. Topics Describing Qualities External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # penance **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun, verb **IPA (US):** /ˈpɛn.əns/ **Frequency rank:** 12854 ## Meanings 1. A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act. 2. To impose penance; to punish. 3. a Catholic sacrament 4. voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing ## Examples - Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do.". - She seem'd, at once, some penanced lady elf, / Some demon mistress, or the demon's self. ## Synonyms - atonement - penitence ## Derived Forms - penanceless - unpenanced ## Etymology From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”). Doublet of penitence. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown