Making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing, often by suffering or doing good deeds.
From atone (at + one, meaning 'to make at one' or 'to reconcile') + -ing present participle. Originally meant 'to reconcile' but evolved to mean 'to make reparation for'.
The word literally breaks down as 'at-one'—the idea that when you've wronged someone, atonement brings you back to being 'at one' with them again.
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