contrite
English
WOTD – 30 May 2006
Etymology
From Middle English contrit, from Old French contrit, from Latin contrītus (literally “ground to pieces”), perfect passive participle of conterō (“grind, bruise”), from con- + terō (“rub, wear away”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kənˈtɹaɪt/, /ˈkɒnˌtɹaɪt/
- (General American) IPA(key): /kənˈtɹaɪt/, /ˈkɑnˌtɹaɪt/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -aɪt
Adjective
contrite (comparative more contrite, superlative most contrite)
- Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions.
- Synonyms: apologetic; see also Thesaurus:remorseful
- Antonym: attrite
- 1779, John Newton; William Cowper, Olney Hymns, London: W. Oliver, page 81:
- The Lord will happineſs divine / On contrite hearts beſtow : / Then tell me, gracious God, is mine / A contrite heart, or no ?
- 1955, Joseph Heller, Catch-22, chapter 13, page 133:
- He greeted Milo jovially each time they met and, in an excess of contrite generosity, impulsively recommended Major Major for promotion. The recommendation was rejected at once at Twenty-seventh Air Force Headquarters by ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen, who scribbled a brusque, unsigned reminder that the Army had only one Major Major Major Major and did not intend to lose him by promotion just to please Colonel Cathcart.
- (obsolete) Thoroughly bruised or broken.
Coordinate terms
- contrition
Derived terms
- contritely
- contriteness
Translations
sincerely penitent
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Noun
contrite (plural contrites)
- A contrite person; a penitent.
- a. 1600, Richard Hooker [uncertain], “Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie”, in The Works of Mr. Richard Hooker, London: J. Best, published 1662, book VI, page 178:
- Secondly, that even where contrition or inward repentance doth cleanſe without abſolution ; the reaſon why it cometh ſo to paſs, is, becauſe ſuch contrites intend and deſire Abſolution, though they have it not.
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Anagrams
- cornetti, tectorin
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kɔ̃.tʁit/
Adjective
contrite
- feminine singular of contrit
Italian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /konˈtri.te/
- Rhymes: -ite
- Hyphenation: con‧trì‧te
Adjective
contrite
- feminine plural of contrito
Anagrams
- cornetti, torcenti
Latin
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /konˈtriː.te/, [kɔn̪ˈt̪riːt̪ɛ]
- (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /konˈtri.te/, [kon̪ˈt̪riːt̪e]
Participle
contrīte
- vocative masculine singular of contrītus