verb
expiate
EK-spee-ayt/ˈekspieɪt/
Make amends for wrongdoing or guilt.
The adult expiates the damage by repairing the neighbor's fence.
Etymology
The pieces suggest thorough appeasement: Latin expiare could mean purging by sacrifice as well as making amends. The selected sense retains the idea of answering for wrongdoing through atonement.
In context
seek pardon for former deeds and expiate with praise bitter impiety and God will give repentance
More examples
- He tries to expiate his guilt by returning the stolen money.
- She hoped to expiate her betrayal with an honest apology.
- They seek to expiate their sins through prayer.
Forms
expiate · expiates · expiated · expiating
expiation noun — The act of making amends for wrongdoing.