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Buße

penance

noun BOO-suh Rare

Also means

fine

Usage Note

Buße carries two senses: religious penance or repentance (Buße tun, to do penance) and, in legal Austrian/Swiss usage, a monetary fine. The verb is büßen (to atone for, to pay for). Note the eszett spelling; only after a long vowel as here.

Examples

"Der Priester legte ihm eine Buße auf."

Natural Translation

The priest imposed a penance on him.

Literal Translation

The priest laid him a penance up.

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