different between contrition vs penance

English

Etymology

Old French contriciun (French contrition), from Latin contr?ti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t????n/

Noun

contrition (countable and uncountable, plural contritions)

1. The state of being contrite; sincere penitence or remorse.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:remorse
2. (obsolete) The act of grinding or rubbing to powder.

   Synonyms: attrition, friction, rubbing

Translations

Further reading

• contrition on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??.t?i.sj??/

Noun

contrition f (plural contritions)

1. remorse, contrition

   Synonyms: componction, remords

Further reading

• “contrition” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“penitence”). Doublet of penitence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?n.?ns/
• Hyphenation: pen?ance

Noun

penance (countable and uncountable, plural penances)

1. A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
   • 1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

     Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do."

2. A sacrament in some Christian churches.
3. Any instrument of self-punishment.
4. (obsolete) repentance
5. (obsolete) pain; sorrow; suffering

   • ne Joy nor penance he feeleth none.

Synonyms

• penitence
• atonement

Related terms

Translations

Verb

penance (third-person singular simple present penances, present participle penancing, simple past and past participle penanced)

1. To impose penance; to punish.