CultureSeptember 3, 2026
expiate
EK-spee-ayt
Definition
To make amends or pay the penalty for guilt, sin, or wrongdoing; to wash away the consequences of an error.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin word 'expiatus,' the past participle of 'expiare,' which combines 'ex-' (out of or completely) with 'piare' (to appease or purify).
In the news
Schrader describes his strict Calvinist upbringing, noting that according to that worldview, humans are born in a state of total depravity that one cannot personally expiate through good works.
Paul Schrader Doesn’t Need Your Permission
Read the full article ↗The Hollywood Reporter