contrition: Meaning and Definition of

con•tri•tion

Pronunciation: (kun-trish'un), [key]
— n.
  1. sincere penitence or remorse.
  2. sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfectionsor from some inferior motive, as fear of divine punishment
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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