penance
1. pen.ance \'pen-*n(t)s\ n [ME, fr. OF, fr. ML poenitentia penitence] 1: an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show s orrow or repentance for sin 2: a sacrament in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Churches consisting in rep entance or contrition for sin, confession to a priest, satisfaction as imposed by the confessor, and absolution 2. penance vt : to impose penance on