espiatorio
expiatory
adjective eh-spyah-TOH-ryoh Rare
Origin: From Latin expiatorius (serving to expiate).
Also means
propitiatory
Usage Note
Espiatorio is almost exclusively used in the phrase capro espiatorio ('scapegoat'), borrowed from the Hebrew biblical ritual. Outside that fixed phrase it appears in formal religious or philosophical texts. Agrees in gender/number: espiatorio, espiatoria, espiatori, espiatorie.
Examples
"Il capro espiatorio è un concetto biblico."
Natural Translation
The scapegoat is a biblical concept.
Related Words
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