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contrition - 3 dictionary results

con⋅tri⋅tion

  [kuhn-trish-uhn]
Use contrition in a Sentence
–noun
1. sincere penitence or remorse.
2. Theology. sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections (perfect contrition), or from some inferior motive, as fear of divine punishment (imperfect contrition).
Origin:
1250–1300; ME contricio(u)n (< AF) < LL contrītiōn- (s. of contrītiō). See contrite, -ion

Synonyms:
1. compunction, regret.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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con·tri·tion   (kən-trĭsh'ən)   
n.  Sincere remorse for wrongdoing; repentance. See Synonyms at penitence.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Contrition

Con*tri"tion\, n. [F. contrition, L. contritio.]

1. The act of grinding or ribbing to powder; attrition; friction; rubbing. [Obs.]

The breaking of their parts into less parts by contrition. --Sir I. Newton.

2. The state of being contrite; deep sorrow and repentance for sin, because sin is displeasing to God; humble penitence; through repentance.

My future days shall be one whole contrition. --Dryden.

Syn: repentance; penitence; humiliation; compunction; self-reproach; remorse.

Usage: Contrition, Attrition, repentance. -- Contrition is deep sorrow and self-condemnation, with through repetance for sin because it is displeasing to God, and implies a feeling of love toward God. Attrition is sorrow for sin, or imperfect repentance produced by fear of punishment or a sense of the baseness of sin. Repentance is a penitent renunciation of, and turning from, sin; thorough repentance produces a new life. Repentance is often used as synonymous with contrition. See Compunction.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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