Atonement is the act of making amends or reparation for a wrongdoing or an offense. It often involves acknowledging one's mistakes and taking steps to correct them, thereby restoring a sense of balance or harmony. In many religious or moral contexts, atonement is seen as a necessary process for seeking forgiveness and reconciling with oneself or others.
The word "atonement" comes from the Middle English term "atenement," which means "to be at one" or to be reconciled. It is derived from a combination of "at one" (indicating a state of reconciliation) and the suffix "-ment," which indicates the action or result of a process.