atonement

English

Etymology

Perhaps from atone +‎ -ment as translation of Medieval Latin adūnāmentum; however, the noun is found earlier than the verb (atone); and in this light, the proper etymology is at +‎ onement.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈtoʊnmənt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

atonement (countable and uncountable, plural atonements)

1. Making amends to restore a damaged relationship; expiation.
   • 1711 March 20 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, March 9, 1710–1711”, in The Spectator, number 8; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, , volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

     When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement he can make for it is, to warn others.

     The spelling has been modernized.

   • 1697-1698, John Potter, Archaeologia Graeca

     The Phocians behaved themselves with so much gallantry, that they were thought to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense.

2. (theology, often with capitalized initial) The reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus.
3. (archaic) Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; concord.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Romans 5:11:

     by whom we have now received the atonement

   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     He desires to make atonement
     Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers.

Derived terms

• blood atonement
• limited atonement
• vicarious atonement

Translations

See also

• penance, penitance, expiation, reconciliation, conciliation
• Yom Kippur (Jewish holiday)
• adunatio (Church Latin)
• atonement on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

References