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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.

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