a. (and sb.). Also 4–5 contrit, (-tritte, -tryht), 4–6 -tryte. [a. F. contrit (12th c.), ad. L. contrīt-us bruised, crushed, pa. pple. of conterĕre, f. con- together + terĕre to rub, triturate, bray, grind.
The pronunciation long varied between the original contri·te and co·ntrite; the former was still recognized by Johnson and used by some 18th-c. hymn-writers. J. has also contri·teness; Browning has contri·tely; on the other hand co·ntrite is found in Piers Ploughman. Depending on this is the prosodic choice between hearts contri·te and co·ntrite hearts.]
† 1. lit. Bruised, crushed; worn or broken by rubbing. Obs. rare.
1657. Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, I. xxvii. 345. Though their strengths are no greater than a contrite reed or a strained arme.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Contrite, worn or bruised; but is most commonly used for penitent or sorrowful for misdeeds, remorseful.
1755. Johnson, Contrite, bruised; much worn.
2. fig. Crushed or broken in spirit by a sense of sin, and so brought to complete penitence.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, cxlvi. 3. Þat helis þe contryte of hert.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 89. If man be inliche contrit.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 400. To assoile men þat ben contrit.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 102. Ful contryht and cleen shrevyn also.
c. 1450. Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb., 3783. He helyd þaim wer contrite in hert.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 140 b. Be contryte and sory for your fall.
1549. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, 30 b. Create and make in vs newe and contrite heartes.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 1091. With our sighs … sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeign’d, and humiliation meek.
a. 1745. Swift, Beasts Conf. to Priest, 37, in Misc. (1746), XI. 215.
| The Swine with contrite Heart allow’d, | |
| His Shape and Beauty made him proud. |
1819. Montgomery, Hymn, ‘Prayer,’ v. Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice Returning from his ways.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), I. 194. No ecclesiastical absolution can help us unless we are contrite for our sin before God.
b. Of actions, etc.: Displaying, or arising from, contrition.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1727. Her contrite sighs unto the clouds bequeathed Her winged sprite. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., IV. i. 313. I Richards body haue interred new, And on it haue bestowed … contrite teares.
1829. Southey, All for Love, VII. He raised this contrite cry.
1868. E. Edwards, Raleigh, I. xiii. 257. In very contrite and earnest words.
3. Comb., as contrite-hearted.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 422. A penitent and contrite-hearted Christian.
1871. Freeman, Hist. Ess., Ser. I. iv. 106. Turned from notorious sinners into contrite-hearted penitents.
† B. quasi-sb. A contrite person, a penitent.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VI. vi. § 13. Such contrites intend and desire absolution, though they have it not.
