Expiate
/ˈɛk.spi.eɪt/noun
To atone for guilt or sin; to make amends.
Did you know?The roots of 'expiate' relate to ancient sacrificial rites, where offerings were made to cleanse sins and restore balance.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
expiāre
“To make amends or atone, originally through a ritual offering.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
expiātiō
“The act of atoning or purifying oneself from guilt.”
Old French
Old French
expiacion
“Act of atonement, often used in religious contexts.”
Middle English
Middle English
expiaten
“To atone, especially in a moral or spiritual sense.”
Modern English
English
expiate
“To make amends or atone for wrongdoing, retaining its ritualistic connotations.”