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contrition

UK/kənˈtɹɪʃən/US/kənˈtɹɪʃən/
nounC2Occasional — familiar, but not everyday · #10,145 of 15,258neutral

Contrition is deep sorrow for having done wrong. A show of contrition.

It is about feeling rather than apology, which is why an apology without contrition is noticed at once. The Latin behind it is grinding down, which is exactly what it feels like.

Francisco José de Goya (1746 - 1828) (Spanish) Details on Google Art Project · Public domain

Definitions of contrition

  1. 1nouncontritionDeep sorrow for having done wrong.C2

    “There was no contrition in the statement, only regret at being caught.”

contrition is a feeling.

Where it comes from

Latin contritio means a grinding down, from conterere, to wear away.

  1. Latin

    contrītiō

  2. Old French

    contriciun

  3. English, today

    contrition

From Old French contriciun (French contrition), from Latin contrītiō.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

contrition in the wild

  • Special formulae for acts of contrition are in use in the Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed Churches.

    Act of Contrition

  • A central concept in much of Christianity, contrition is regarded as the first step, through Christ, towards reconciliation with God.

    Contrition

  • Repentance is reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs.

    Unrepentant (disambiguation)

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.