atone
See also: at one
English
WOTD – 19 February 2009
Etymology
From atone (“reconciled”), from Middle English atone, attone, atoon (“agreed”, literally “at one”), equivalent to at + one. Compare Latin adūnō (“I unite, make one”) for the similar formation. Regarding the different phonological development of atone and one, see the note in one.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /əˈtəʊn/
- (US) IPA(key): /əˈtoʊn/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -əʊn
Verb
atone (third-person singular simple present atones, present participle atoning, simple past and past participle atoned)
- (transitive, intransitive) To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency. [from 1680s]
- Synonyms: expiate, propitiate
- (obsolete, transitive) To bring at one or at concordance; to reconcile; to suffer appeasement. [from 1570s]
- (obsolete, intransitive) To agree or accord; to be in accordance or harmony. [from 1590s]
- (obsolete, transitive) To unite in making.
- (proscribed) To absolve (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.
Derived terms
- atonable
- atoneable
- atonement
- atoner
Translations
to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime
|
to clear someone else of wrongdoing
|
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “atone”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- atone in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- “atone”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Anagrams
- Eaton, Onate, neato, oaten
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a.tɔn/
Audio (file)
Adjective
atone (plural atones)
- expressionless
- (linguistics) unstressed
- (linguistics) mute
Further reading
- “atone”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Italian
Adjective
atone f pl
- feminine plural of atono
Anagrams
- Anteo, aneto, etano