con|trite «kuhn TRYT, KON tryt», adjective.
1. broken in spirit by a sense of guilt; penitent: »
The boy felt contrite after he had hit his little sister. ... an humble and a contrite heart (Rudyard Kipling).
SYNONYM(S): repentant, sorrowful, humbled.2. showing deep regret and sorrow: »
He wrote an apology in contrite words.
╂[< Latin contrītus crushed, past participle of conterere to grind < com- (intensive) + terere rub, grind]
–con|trite´ly, adverb.
–con|trite´ness, noun.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.