[ex.pi.ate] vb -at.ed ; -at.ing [L expiatus, pp. of expiare to atone for, fr. ex- + piare to atone for, appease, fr. pius faithful, pious] vt (1594) 1 obs: to put an end to
2. a: to extinguish the guilt incurred by b: to make amends for "permission to ~ their offences by their assiduous labours --Francis Bacon" ~ vi: to make expiation -- ex.pi.a.ble adj -- ex.pi.a.tor n