expiar

Expiar is a verb in Spanish and Portuguese that means to expiate, atone for guilt or sin, or to make amends for a fault or crime. In religious contexts, it often refers to acts of penance or purification intended to cleanse spiritual guilt; in secular usage, it can describe compensating someone for harm done or taking responsibility for one’s actions.

Etymology: The term comes from Latin expiāre, related to the English expiate. The root conveys purification or appeasement of guilt through sacrifice, penance, or restitution.

Usage notes: In Spanish and Portuguese, expiar is a regular verb with standard conjugation patterns. It conveys the act of expiation and is closely linked to concepts such as atonement and penance, though it is more commonly used to describe the act itself than to refer to broader theological doctrines. In English, the corresponding verb is expiate and the noun form expiation.

See also: Atonement, Expiation, Penance, Restitution.