contrite en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /kənˈtɹaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /kənˈtɹaɪt/ (General-American)
- /ˈkɒnˌtɹaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈkɑnˌtɹaɪt/ (General-American)
- (Australia) audio
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- Latin terō Latin conterō Latin contrītusder. Old French contritbor. Middle English contrit English contrite From Middle English contrit, from Old French contrit, from Latin contrītus (literally “ground to pieces”), perfect passive participle of conterō (“grind, bruise”), from con- + terō (“rub, wear away”).
Meanings
-
Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions.
The Lord will happineſs divine / On contrite hearts beſtow : / Then tell me, gracious God, is mine / A contrite heart, or no ?
1779, John Newton, William Cowper, Olney Hymns, London: W. Oliver, page 81:He greeted Milo jovially each time they met and, in an excess of contrite generosity, impulsively recommended Major Major for promotion. The recommendation was rejected at once at Twenty-seventh Air Force Headquarters by ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen, who scribbled a brusque, unsigned reminder that the Army had only one Major Major Major Major and did not intend to lose him by promotion just to please Colonel Cathcart.
1955, Joseph Heller, Catch-22, chapter 13, page 133:
- (obsolete) Thoroughly bruised or broken.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more contrite | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most contrite | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Coordinates
Deriveds
contritely · uncontrite · contriteness
Synonyms
apologetic · remorseful · repentant · apologetic · contrite · penitent · guilt-ridden
Translations (41)
ar تَائِب (sincerely penitent) · uk розкаяний (sincerely penitent) · uk той, що кається (sincerely penitent) · de zerknirscht (sincerely penitent) · nb skyldbetynget (sincerely penitent) · cmn 悔悟了的 (sincerely penitent) · fi katuva (sincerely penitent) · pa ਪਛਤਾਵਾ ਗਰਸਤ (sincerely penitent) · da angrende (sincerely penitent) · la paenitens (sincerely penitent) · tl nagagatik (sincerely penitent) · ar نَادِم (sincerely penitent) · sk kajúcny (sincerely penitent) · da angerfuld (sincerely penitent) · nl met berouw (sincerely penitent) · es arrepentido (sincerely penitent) · ru кающийся (sincerely penitent) · sh skrušen (sincerely penitent) · cs kajícný (sincerely penitent) · da brødebetynget (sincerely penitent) · tr pişman (sincerely penitent) · nb angrende (sincerely penitent) · nb botferdig (sincerely penitent) · fi katuvainen (sincerely penitent) · pt contrito (sincerely penitent) · es contrito (sincerely penitent) · cmn 后悔的 (sincerely penitent) · fr contrit (sincerely penitent) · nl rouwvol (sincerely penitent) · de reuevoll (sincerely penitent) · nb angerfull (sincerely penitent) · cy edifeiriol (sincerely penitent) · ca contrit (sincerely penitent) · sv ångerfull (sincerely penitent) · bg разкаян (sincerely penitent) · mi ngākau iro (sincerely penitent) · el συντετριμμένος (sincerely penitent) · mi rīpenetā (sincerely penitent) · tr nadim (sincerely penitent) · nl berouwvol (sincerely penitent) · ga croíbhrúite (sincerely penitent)