penance

plural penances

1. countableuncountableA voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.

   Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, / And penance more will do."

   1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC

2. countableuncountableA sacrament in some Christian churches that involves penitence (remorse plus restitution via prayer).
3. countableuncountableAny instrument of self-punishment.
4. countableobsoleteuncountablerepentance
5. countableobsoleteuncountablepain; sorrow; suffering

present singular third person penances · participle present penancing · participle past penanced · past penanced

1. To impose penance; to punish.

   She seem'd, at once, some penanced lady elf, / Some demon mistress, or the demon's self.

   1819, John Keats, “Lamia”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, part I, page 6

   Synonyms: castigate, penalize, amerce, castigate, chasten, chastise, come down on, correct