contrite

[ kuhn-trahyt, kon-trahyt ]
/ kənˈtraɪt, ˈkɒn traɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR contrite ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

caused by or showing sincere remorse.
filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent: a contrite sinner.

Origin of contrite

1300–50; Middle English contrit (< Anglo-French) < Latin contrītus worn down, crushed, past participle of conterere. See con-, trite

OTHER WORDS FROM contrite

Words nearby contrite

contribute, contribution, contributor, contributory, contributory negligence, contrite, contrition, contrivance, contrive, contrived, control

Words related to contriteness

compunction, regret, guilt, repentance, shame, penitence, remorse, attrition

Example sentences from the Web for contriteness

British Dictionary definitions for contriteness

contrite
/ (kənˈtraɪt, ˈkɒntraɪt) /

adjective

full of guilt or regret; remorseful
arising from a sense of shame or guilt contrite promises
theol remorseful for past sin and resolved to avoid future sin

Derived forms of contrite

contritely, adverb contriteness, noun

Word Origin for contrite

C14: from Latin contrītus worn out, from conterere to bruise, from terere to grind