penance

In obsolete terms the difference between austerity and penance

is that austerity is sourness and harshness to the taste while penance is pain; sorrow; suffering.

As nouns the difference between austerity and penance

is that austerity is severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh discipline while penance is a voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.

As a verb penance is

to impose penance; to punish.

As nouns the difference between penance and quadragene

is that penance is a voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing it may be intended to serve as reparation for the act while quadragene is an indulgence of forty days, corresponding to the forty days of ancient canonical penance.

As a verb penance

is to impose penance; to punish.