A Prescription for Atonement

摘要

A contrite person is one who is overcomewith guilt, a penitent individual seekingatonement. The word stems from theLatin, contritus, meaning to grind, tobruise, to wear away. The same Latinword, without a hint of atonement, isused in standard medical prescriptions(contritus, or its abbreviation, contrit.) toinstruct the pharmacist to grind up orpulverize the medication.