英语释义
1. an act of self-abasement, mortification (see mortification sense 3), or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
He did charitable work as a penance.
2. a sacramental rite that is practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches and that consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor (see confessor sense 3a)
3. something (such as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)
who go on cheap camping trips instead of real vacations as a kind of penance
— Judith Thurman
4. to impose penance on
5. something that you do or are given to do in order to show that you are sad or sorry about doing something wrong
6. an act showing sorrow or regret for sin