Atone - plus, take a quick break & play a game!

[Merriam-Webster]( WORD OF THE DAY [September 19, 2018](#none) atone [Audio pronunciation]( verb | uh-TOHN Definition 1 : to make amends : to provide or serve as [reparation]( or compensation for something bad or unwelcome — usually + for 2 : to make reparation or supply satisfaction for : [expiate]( — used in the [passive]( voice with for Scroll down for more about atone TRENDING NOW: [Spartan]( [hirsute]( [op-ed]( [collegiality]( [SEE ALL [>]]( PEOPLE ARE READING # [Our ‘Kumbaya’ Moment]( # [How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?]( # [On 'Biweekly' and 'Bimonthly']( # ['Shaken' (Not Stirred) and Leaving Us 'Shook']( WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE [Musical Words Quiz]( A quiz in common time. [PLAY NOW]( Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try! [TAKE ME THERE [>]]( Did You Know? Atone comes to us from the combination in Middle English of [at]( and on, the latter of which is an old variant of [one](. Together they meant "in harmony." (In current English, we use "at one" with a similar suggestion of harmony in such phrases as "at one with nature.") When it first entered English, atone meant "to reconcile" and suggested the restoration of a peaceful and harmonious state between people or groups. These days the verb specifically implies addressing the damage (or disharmony) caused by one's own behavior. Examples of ATONE James tried to atone for the mistakes of his youth by devoting his life to helping others. "Tony Stark became Iron Man partially to atone for his history of global weapons profiteering." — Alex Biese and Felecia Wellington Radel, Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, 1 July 2018 Name That Synonym What synonym of atone can also mean "to exchange for something of value" or "to make worthwhile"? [VIEW THE ANSWER [>]]( MERCH Get ready for fall! Whether you're going back to school or going apple picking, we've got you covered with our new tote bags! [SHOP NOW [>]]( MORE WORD FUN: [WORD GAMES [>]]( [TRENDING NOW [>]]( [WORDS AT PLAY [>]]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( SHARE: [Facebook][Facebook]( [Twitter][Twitter]( [View this email in a web browser]( You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. [Unsubscribe from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day]( [Manage your subscription settings]( Merriam-Webster, Inc. 47 Federal Street P.O. Box 281 Springfield, MA 01102 [www.merriam-webster.com](