Both Uses of
atone
in
Middlemarch
- He meant to give Fred his full advantage, but it would be well, he thought, to clear her mind of any superstitions, such as women sometimes follow when they do a man the wrong of marrying him as an act of atonement.†
Chpt 5 *atonement = the process of fixing or making up for a wrong
- And I wish to make atonement to you as the one still remaining who has suffered a loss through me.†
Chpt 6
Definitions:
-
(1)
(atone) to fix or make up for a wrong -- especially a sin (even if nothing can be done to make up for the wrong other than to show regret)
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Archaically, atone could also mean to agree, to appease, or to reconcile.