Hypertext Webster Gateway: "expiation"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Expiation
Guilt is said to be expiated when it is visited with punishment
falling on a substitute. Expiation is made for our sins when
they are punished not in ourselves but in another who consents
to stand in our room. It is that by which reconciliation is
effected. Sin is thus said to be "covered" by vicarious
satisfaction.
The cover or lid of the ark is termed in the LXX. hilasterion,
that which covered or shut out the claims and demands of the law
against the sins of God's people, whereby he became "propitious"
to them.
The idea of vicarious expiation runs through the whole Old
Testament system of sacrifices. (See {PROPITIATION}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Expiation \Ex`pi*a"tion\, n. [L. expiatio: cf.F. expiation]
1. The act of making satisfaction or atonement for any crime
or fault; the extinguishing of guilt by suffering or
penalty.
His liberality seemed to have something in it of
self-abasement and expiation. --W. Irving.
2. The means by which reparation or atonement for crimes or
sins is made; an expiatory sacrifice or offering; an
atonement.
Those shadowy expiations weak, The blood of bulls
and goats. --Milton.
3. An act by which the treats of prodigies were averted among
the ancient heathen. [Obs.] --Hayward.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
expiation
n 1: compensation for a wrong; "we were unable to get
satisfaction from the local store" [syn: {atonement}, {satisfaction}]
2: the act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing [syn: {atonement},
{propitiation}]
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