What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Atone vs Penance - What's the difference?

atone | penance |

As verbs the difference between atone and penance

is that atone is to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime or a sin one has committed while penance is to impose penance; to punish.

As a noun penance is

a voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing it may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.

atone

English

Verb

(aton)
  • To make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime or a sin one has committed.
  • (proscribed) To clear (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.
  • Synonyms

    * (to make reparation) expiate, propitiate

    Derived terms

    () * atonable * atoneable * atonement * atoner

    penance

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
  • * Coleridge
  • Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do."
  • A sacrament in some Christian churches.
  • (obsolete) repentance
  • (obsolete) pain; sorrow; suffering
  • * Chaucer
  • Joy or penance he feeleth none.

    Quotations

    * 2009 : Stuart Heritage], [http://www.hecklerspray.com/ Hecklerspray] , Friday the 22nd of May in 2009 at 1 o’clock p.m., “[http://www.hecklerspray.com/jon-kate-latest-people-you-dont-know-do-crap-you-dont-care-about/200934378.php Jon & Kate Latest: People You Don’t Know Do Crap You Don’t Care About” *: You know all this kerfuffle about Jordan and Peter Andre, and how you don’t know if they’re really splitting up or it’s just an act, and how you can’t be bothered to find out because wasting even a fraction of your brainpower on those bright orange clueless dicksplats would make you just as bad as them and you’d feel duty-bound to fling yourself under an industrial threshing machine as penance ? You do? Good.

    Verb

    (penanc)
  • To impose penance; to punish.
  • * Keats
  • Some penanced lady elf.