Relating to or serving as expiation; having the character of atonement.
Formed by adding the adjectival suffix -al to the noun expiation. This is a relatively modern formation (19th-20th century) to create an adjective describing things related to expiation.
The 'expiational' value of suffering appears in Christian theology—the idea that Christ's crucifixion serves as an 'expiational' sacrifice for humanity's sins is central to Christian doctrine and shaped Western thought.
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