New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Contrite — Con trite (?; 277), a. [L. contritus bruised, p. p. of contrere to grind, bruise; con + terere to rub, grind: cf. F. contrit See {Trite}.] 1. Thoroughly bruised or broken. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Broken down with grief and penitence; deeply… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Contrite — Con trite, n. A contrite person. Hooker. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Contrite — Con trite, v. In a contrite manner. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
contrite — I adjective apologetic, broken in spirit, chastened, compunctious, conscience smitten, conscience stricken, desirous of forgiveness, full of regrets, full of remorse, guilty, humble, humbled, paenitet, penitent, penitential, regretful, regretting … Law dictionary
contrite — c.1300, from O.Fr. contrit and directly from L. contritus, lit. worn out, ground to pieces, pp. of conterere to grind, from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + terere to rub (see THROW (Cf. throw)). Used in English in figurative sense of … Etymology dictionary
contrite — [adj] regretful apologetic, attritional, chastened, compunctious, conscience stricken, humble, penitent, penitential, remorseful, repentant, sorrowful, sorry; concept 403 Ant. hurtful, indifferent, mean, unrepentant … New thesaurus
contrite — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ feeling or expressing remorse. DERIVATIVES contritely adverb contriteness noun contrition noun. ORIGIN Latin contritus, from conterere grind down, wear away … English terms dictionary
contrite — [kən trīt′, kän′trīt΄] adj. [ME contrit < OFr < LL(Ec) contritus, lit., worn out, ground to pieces, pp. of L conterere, to grind < com , together + terere, to rub: see THROW] 1. feeling contrition; repentant 2. showing or resulting from… … English World dictionary
contrite — [[t]kəntra͟ɪt, kɒ̱ntraɪt[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ If you are contrite, you are very sorry because you have done something wrong. [FORMAL] She was instantly contrite. Oh, I am sorry! You must forgive me. Syn: sorry Derived words: contrition … English dictionary
contrite — /kənˈtraɪt / (say kuhn truyt), /ˈkɒntraɪt / (say kontruyt) adjective 1. broken in spirit by a sense of guilt; penitent: *She seemed altogether humble and contrite, small, even hunched, she who had been proud, on her powerful horse. –patrick white …
