contrite, a. (and n.)
(ˈkɒntraɪt)
Also 4–5 contrit, (-tritte, -tryht), 4–6 -tryte.
[a. F. contrit (12th c.), ad. L. contrīt-us bruised, crushed, pa. pple. of conterĕre, f. con- together + terĕre to rub, triturate, bray, grind.
The pronunciation long varied between the original conˈtrite and ˈcontrite; the former was still recognized by Johnson and used by some 18th c. hymn-writers. J. has also conˈtriteness; Browning has conˈtritely; on the other hand ˈcontrite is found in Piers Ploughman. Depending on this is the prosodic choice between hearts conˈtrite and ˈcontrite hearts.]
† 1. lit. Bruised, crushed; worn or broken by rubbing. Obs. rare.
| 1651 Jer. Taylor Serm. for Year i. xxvii. 345 Though their strengths are no greater than a contrite reed or a strained arme. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Contrite, worn or bruised; but is most commonly used for penitent or sorrowful for misdeeds, remorseful. 1755 Johnson, Contrite, bruised; much worn. |
2. fig. Crushed or broken in spirit by a sense of sin, and so brought to complete penitence.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxlvi. 3 Þat helis þe contryte of hert. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 89 If man be inliche contrit. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 400 To assoile men þat ben contrit. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 102 Ful contryht and cleen shrevyn also. c 1450 Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb. 3783 He helyd þaim wer contrite in hert. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 140 b, Be contryte and sory for your fall. 1549 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer 30 b, Create and make in vs newe and contrite heartes. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 1091 With our sighs..sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek. a 1745 Swift Beasts' Conf. to Priest, The swine with contrite heart allow'd His shape and beauty made him proud. 1819 Montgomery Hymn, ‘Prayer’ v, Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice Returning from his ways. 1856 R. A. Vaughan Mystics (1860) I. 194 No ecclesiastical absolution can help us unless we are contrite for our sin before God. |
b. Of actions, etc.: Displaying, or arising from, contrition.
| 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 1727 Her contrite sighs unto the clouds bequeathed Her winged sprite. 1599 ― Hen. V, iv. i. 313, I Richards body haue interred new, And on it haue bestowed..contrite teares. 1829 Southey All for Love vii, He raised this contrite cry. 1868 E. Edwards Raleigh I. xiii. 257 In very contrite and earnest words. |
3. Comb., as contrite-hearted.
| 1611 Coryat Crudities 422 A penitent and contrite-hearted Christian. 1871 Freeman Hist. Ess. Ser. i. iv. 106 Turned from notorious sinners into contrite-hearted penitents. |
† B. quasi-n. A contrite person, a penitent.
| a 1600 Hooker Eccl. Pol. vi. vi. §13 Such contrites intend and desire absolution, though they have it not. |