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   Pen·ance

   /ˈpenəns/

   

   noun

   • 1. voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong: "he had done public penance for those hasty words"
   • 2. a Christian sacrament in which a member of the Church confesses sins to a priest and is given absolution.
   • ▪ a religious observance or other duty required of a person by a priest as part of this sacrament to indicate repentance.

   verb

   • 1. impose a penance on: archaic "a hair shirt to penance him for his folly in offending"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French, from Latin paenitentia ‘repentance’, from the verb paenitere ‘be sorry’.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • A

     1

   • N

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

     1

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