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ex·pi·ate

(ĕkspē-āt′)

v. ex·pi·at·ed, ex·pi·at·ing, ex·pi·ates

v.tr.

To make amends or reparation for; atone for: expiate one's sins by acts of penance.

v.intr.

To make amends; atone.

[Latin expiāre, expiāt- : ex-, intensive pref.; see EX- + piāre, to atone (from pius, devout).]

expi·a′tor n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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