Pardoner: meaning, definitions and examples
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pardoner
[ ˈpɑːrdənər ]
historical context
A pardoner is a person in the medieval Church who was authorized to sell pardons, or indulgences, to the faithful. These pardons were thought to reduce punishment for sins in the afterlife, allowing individuals to absolve their wrongdoings through payment. Pardoners were often seen as dubious figures, exploiting the fears of the people regarding sin and salvation. They commonly traveled from town to town, carrying relics and promoting their pardoning services. Their practices contributed to the criticism of the Church during the Reformation.
Synonyms
absolution merchant, indulgence seller.
Examples of usage
- The pardoner preached about the benefits of his indulgences.
- Historically, many pardoners were accused of being corrupt.
- In Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales', the pardoner is a pivotal character.
Translations
Translations of the word "pardoner" in other languages:
🇵🇹 perdoador
🇮🇳 क्षमा करने वाला
🇩🇪 Absolution
🇮🇩 pengampun
🇺🇦 прощенник
🇵🇱 przebaczający
🇯🇵 赦免者
🇫🇷 pardonneur
🇪🇸 perdonador
🇹🇷 affedicilik
🇰🇷 용서하는 자
🇸🇦 المغفر
🇨🇿 odpuštěč
🇸🇰 odpúšťajúci
🇨🇳 宽恕者
🇸🇮 odpuščajoč
🇮🇸 fyrirgefandi
🇰🇿 кешірім беруші
🇬🇪 მიტევებელი
🇦🇿 bağışlayan
🇲🇽 perdonador
Etymology
The term 'pardoner' derives from the Old French word 'pardoner', which means 'to pardon' or 'to forgive'. This, in turn, has roots in the Latin 'pardonare', composed of 'par-' meaning 'through' and 'donare' meaning 'to give'. In the context of the medieval Catholic Church, the concept of pardon was tied closely to the selling of indulgences, a practice that was heavily critiqued during the 16th century Reformation. Famous works, such as Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales', depict the role of the pardoner, illustrating the social and religious dynamics of the time. The image of the pardoner has since become symbolic of the corruption and moral decay within ecclesiastical institutions, leading to debates about the legitimacy of such practices and the ethical implications of selling spiritual forgiveness.