/əˈtəʊn/, /əˈtoʊn/, [əˈtʰoʊ̯n]
OriginFrom 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.
- ambitransitiveTo make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency.
“He tried to atone for his mistakes by working harder.”
“She gave a donation to atone for her past actions.”
“The ritual was performed to atone for sins.”
- obsolete, transitiveTo bring at one or at concordance; to reconcile; to suffer appeasement.
- intransitive, obsoleteTo agree or accord; to be in accordance or harmony.
- obsolete, transitiveTo unite in making.
- proscribedTo absolve (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.
Formsatones(present, singular, third-person) · atoning(participle, present) · atoned(participle, past) · atoned(past)