adjective 1.expiatory; atoning; reparatory.
2.requiring expiation; sinful or wicked.
Origin: 1600–10; <
Latin piāculāris atoning, equivalent to
piācul(
um) a means of atoning (
piā(
re) to appease, derivative of
pius pious +
-culum -cule2) +
-āris -ar1 Related forms pi·ac·u·lar·ly, adverb
pi·ac·u·lar·ness, noun