penance

Everyday

1. (church) Penance is something a person does to show they are sorry for a sin, such as saying prayers or doing a good deed, especially after confession in the Catholic Church. tree →
2. (church) Penance is also the name of the sacrament of confession (also called reconciliation). tree →
3. Something unpleasant you have to put up with, as if as a punishment: «Waiting in the queue was a penance». tree →

In the lessons

In religious education, Catholic children learn about confession, where a priest may give a penance, often a few prayers. In everyday talk, «do penance» means doing something hard to make up for a wrong. Phrases: «do penance», «as a penance», «the sacrament of penance».

Examples

• After confession the priest gave her a penance of three prayers. tree →
• He cleaned the kitchen as a penance for breaking the cup. tree →
• In the Middle Ages, some people walked to holy places to do penance. tree →
• Catholics also call confession the sacrament of penance. tree →
• Listening to my brother's music was a real penance. tree →
• Lent is a time of prayer and penance for many Christians. tree →
• She did penance by giving her pocket money to charity. tree →
• Psyche had to undergo a long and severe penance before she became worthy to regain the happiness, which she had so foolishly trifled away. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable («do penance»), countable when it means a particular task («a penance»). Related: penitent, repent. Penance is not the same as punishment from a court; it is chosen to show sorrow.