The verb "expiar" primarily means to atone for a sin, wrongdoing, or fault. It involves the idea of making reparations or compensating for an error or offense. In legal contexts, it can refer to serving a punishment or fulfilling a consequence related to criminal actions.
In the Spanish language, "expiar" is used both in written and oral contexts, but it may be more prevalent in written forms, especially in literature, religious texts, and legal documents.
Ella tuvo que expiar sus errores para poder avanzar en su vida.
(She had to atone for her mistakes in order to move forward in her life.)
Al expiar su pena, el acusado mostró un profundo remordimiento.
(By serving his sentence, the accused showed deep remorse.)
La comunidad buscó maneras de expiar el daño que habían causado.
(The community looked for ways to atone for the harm they had caused.)
"Expiar" is not as commonly featured in idiomatic expressions as some other verbs, but it is pertinent in discussions surrounding redemption, guilt, and consequences. Here are some relevant examples:
Expiar culpa
(To atone for guilt)
“En la iglesia, él se sintió tranquilo después de expiar su culpa.”
(At church, he felt at peace after atoning for his guilt.)
Expiar pecados
(To atone for sins)
“El ritual tiene como objetivo expiar pecados y buscar el perdón.”
(The ritual aims to atone for sins and seek forgiveness.)
A expensas de expiar
(At the cost of atoning)
“Decidió cambiar su vida, a expensas de expiar su pasado.”
(He decided to change his life at the cost of atoning for his past.)
The word "expiar" comes from the Latin word "expiāre," which is formed by the prefix "ex-" meaning "out of" or "from" and "piāre," which means "to appease" or "to cleanse." This reflects the term's connotation of cleansing guilt or wrongdoing.
Aplacar (to appease)
Antonyms: