contrite

  • 1Contrite — Con trite (?; 277), a. [L. contritus bruised, p. p. of contrere to grind, bruise; con + terere to rub, grind: cf. F. contrit See {Trite}.] 1. Thoroughly bruised or broken. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Broken down with grief and penitence; deeply… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Contrite — Con trite, n. A contrite person. Hooker. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3Contrite — Con trite, v. In a contrite manner. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4contrite — I adjective apologetic, broken in spirit, chastened, compunctious, conscience smitten, conscience stricken, desirous of forgiveness, full of regrets, full of remorse, guilty, humble, humbled, paenitet, penitent, penitential, regretful, regretting …

    Law dictionary

  • 5contrite — c.1300, from O.Fr. contrit and directly from L. contritus, lit. worn out, ground to pieces, pp. of conterere to grind, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + terere to rub (see THROW (Cf. throw)). Used in English in figurative sense of …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6contrite — [adj] regretful apologetic, attritional, chastened, compunctious, conscience stricken, humble, penitent, penitential, remorseful, repentant, sorrowful, sorry; concept 403 Ant. hurtful, indifferent, mean, unrepentant …

    New thesaurus

  • 7contrite — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ feeling or expressing remorse. DERIVATIVES contritely adverb contriteness noun contrition noun. ORIGIN Latin contritus, from conterere grind down, wear away …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8contrite — [kən trīt′, kän′trīt΄] adj. [ME contrit < OFr < LL(Ec) contritus, lit., worn out, ground to pieces, pp. of L conterere, to grind < com , together + terere, to rub: see THROW] 1. feeling contrition; repentant 2. showing or resulting from… …

    English World dictionary

  • 9contrite — adjective Etymology: Middle English contrit, from Anglo French, from Medieval Latin contritus, from Latin, past participle of conterere to grind, bruise, from com + terere to rub more at throw Date: 14th century feeling or showing sorrow and… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10contrite — [[t]kəntra͟ɪt, kɒ̱ntraɪt[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ If you are contrite, you are very sorry because you have done something wrong. [FORMAL] She was instantly contrite. Oh, I am sorry! You must forgive me. Syn: sorry Derived words: contrition …

    English dictionary