Definition of ATONE

atone

Verb

Verb Forms: atoned, atoning, atones

  • To make amends for a wrongdoing or mistake.
  • make amends for
  • turn away from sin or do penitence
  • To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency.
  • To bring at one or at concordance; to reconcile; to suffer appeasement.
  • To agree or accord; to be in accordance or harmony.
  • To unite in making.
  • To absolve (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.

Examples

  • He played ’SORRY’ to atone for blocking his opponent’s best move.

Origin / Etymology

From atone (“reconciled”), from Middle English atone, attone, atoon (“agreed”, literally “at one”), equivalent to at + one. Compare Latin adūnō (“I unite, make one”) for the similar formation. Regarding the different phonological development of atone and one, see the note in one.

Synonyms

aby, abye, expiate, repent, abegge, abide, aby/abye, acquit, answer, answer for, assoil, atone, make amends, propitiate, recover, redeem, repair, reparate

Scrabble Score: 5

atone: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
atone: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
atone: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

atone: valid Words With Friends Word