Worn down by friction or use; worn away; also, feeling genuine remorse or sorrow for one's sins or wrongdoings.
From Latin 'attritus' (past participle of 'atterere': ad- 'to' + terere 'to rub/wear'). The theological sense (remorse) developed because sin wears down the soul.
In theology, 'attrite' sorrow is different from 'contrite' sorrow—attrite means you're sorry because you fear punishment, while contrite means you're genuinely remorseful. Medieval monks debated this distinction heavily! Meanwhile, geologists use 'attrite' to describe rocks worn smooth by water.
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