contrition

/kən-ˈtri-shən/

Middle English contricioun "disruption, rift or breach, sorrow for sins committed," borrowed from Anglo-French cuntriciun, contricion, borrowed from Latin contrītiōn-, contrītiō "dismay, grief, despondency" (Medieval Latin also "crushing sense of sin"), from contrī-, variant stem of conterere "to crush, wear out or down, exhaust mentally or physically" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

noun

  1. the state of being contrite : repentance

She shed tears of contrition for her sins.

penitence repentance contrition compunction remorse mean regret for sin or wrongdoing. penitence implies sad and humble realization of and regret for one's misdeeds. repentance adds the implication of a resolve to change.