atone
See also: at one
English edit
Etymology edit
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.
Pronunciation edit
- (UK) IPA(key): /əˈtəʊn/
- (US) IPA(key): /əˈtoʊn/, [əˈtʰoʊ̯n]
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -əʊn
Verb edit
atone (third-person singular simple present atones, present participle atoning, simple past and past participle atoned)
- (transitive, intransitive) To make reparation, compensation, amends or satisfaction for an offence, crime, mistake or deficiency. [from 1680s]
- Synonyms: expiate, propitiate
- (obsolete, transitive) To bring at one or at concordance; to reconcile; to suffer appeasement. [from 1570s]
- (obsolete, intransitive) To agree or accord; to be in accordance or harmony. [from 1590s]
- (obsolete, transitive) To unite in making.
- (proscribed) To absolve (someone else) of wrongdoing, especially by standing as an equivalent.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
to make reparation, compensation, or amends, for an offence or a crime
|
to clear someone else of wrongdoing
References edit
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “atone”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “atone”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “atone”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
Anagrams edit
French edit
Etymology edit
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἄτονος (átonos).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
atone (plural atones)
Further reading edit
- “atone”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Italian edit
Adjective edit
atone f pl