Dictionary
con•tri•tion
Pronunciation: (kun-trish'un), [key]—
n.
1. sincere penitence or remorse.
2. Theol.sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections
(perfect contrition), or from some inferior motive, as fear of divine punishment
(imperfect contrition). Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.