好词典
penance
UK //ˈpenəns//US //ˈpenəns//
词源
源自拉丁语 'poenitentia'（悔改），经古法语 'penance' 进入英语，13世纪开始使用。
noun
❶ 指为弥补过错或罪过而自愿进行的惩罚或苦修，常见于宗教或道德语境中。
“He did penance for his sins by fasting for three days.”
（他通过禁食三天来为自己的罪过赎罪。）
“She wore a hair shirt as an act of penance.”
（她穿着粗毛衬衣作为一种赎罪行为。）
❶ 泛指因犯错而接受的惩罚或自我惩戒行为，不限于宗教范畴。
“After lying to his parents, his penance was doing extra chores.”
（对父母撒谎后，他通过做额外家务来弥补。）
“She considered running five miles her penance for eating dessert.”
（她把跑五英里当作吃了甜点的惩罚。）
同义词:atonement, repentance, self-punishment
verb
❶ 实施赎罪行为，通过特定方式弥补过失（较少使用）。
“He penanced himself by giving up luxuries for a month.”
（他放弃奢侈品一个月来惩罚自己。）
“The monk penanced through silent meditation.”
（僧人通过静默冥想赎罪。）
同义词:atone, expiate
常见短语
do penance — 进行赎罪行为，通常指通过特定仪式或苦修来弥补过错。
“In medieval times, people would do penance by going on pilgrimages.”
（中世纪时，人们会通过朝圣来赎罪。）