also 6–8 attone. [f. the prec. advb. phr. in its combined form as repr. a simple idea, and 16th c. pronunciation. Short for the phrase ‘set or make at one’; cf. to back, to forward, to right, etc., and the compounds at-one-maker, at-one-making, under prec. Assisted by the prior existence of the vb. to ONE = make one, put at one, unite, L. unīre, F. unir; whence onement was used already by Wyclif. From the frequent phrases ‘set at one’ or ‘at onement,’ the combined atonement began to take the place of onement early in 16th c., and atone to supplant one vb. about 1550. Atone was not admitted into the Bible in 1611, though atonement had been in since Tindale.]
I. Of unity of disposition.
1. trans. To set at one, bring into concord, reconcile, unite in harmony: a. contending persons. (Obs. exc. as revived by etymological writers.)
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. i. 202. Since we cannot attone you, you shall see Iustice designe the Victors Chiualrie.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. vii. 65. The new Pope … sends a Cardinall Deacon to attone the two mightie Kings of France and England.
1643. Milton, Sov. Salve, 9. The king and parliament will soon be attoned.
1675. Dryden, Aureng-zebe, III. 1136. The King and haughty Empress … If not atton’d, yet seemingly at Peace.
1845–6. Trench, Huls. Lect., Ser. I. ii. 30. Him in whom God and man were perfectly atoned.
† b. differences, quarrels. To compose, appease.
1555. Fardle Facions, I. vi. 92. Those battayles are attoned by the women … For when they be ones comen into the middle … the battaile sodenly ceaseth.
1565. J. Heywood, in Casquet Lit., IV. 232/2. The constable is called to atone the broil.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., IV. 167. She presently … attonde the discord.
1702. Rowe, Tamerlane, III. i. 1096. Could I attone The fatal Breach ’twixt thee and Tamerlane.
† 2. intr. To unite, come into unity or concord.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. iv. 116. Then is there mirth in heauen When earthly things made eauen Attone together. Ibid. (1607), Cor., IV. vi. 72. He and Auffidius can no more attone Then violent’st Contrariety.
3. trans. To reconcile or restore to friendly relations: a. one who is alienated by a sense of wrong or offence received: To conciliate, propitiate, appease. arch.
a. 1617. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 11. Now he [God] is atoned and reconciled by Christ.
1698. Dryden, Æneid, III. 45. With pray’rs and vows the Driads I attone.
1718. Pope, Iliad, I. 89. So heaven, atoned, shall dying Greece restore.
1809. Lett., in Dk. Buckhm., Crt. Geo. III. (1855), IV. 391/3. To atone Lord Wellesley for the mortification he must have experienced.
† b. the offender: To restore by forgiveness to favor or friendly relations, to make at peace with.
1642. J. Jackson, Bk. Consc., 54. There can be no sound peace of Conscience, till we be atoned and reconciled to God.
4. Whence, absol. To make reconcilement or propitiation: a. for the offender.
1682. Dryden, Relig. Laici, 89. If sheep and oxen could atone for men. Ibid. (a. 1700), Dram. Wks. (1761), III. 18. The Oracle of Appius, and the Witchcraft of Erictho will somewhat attone for him [Lucan].
b. for the offence. (Here the idea of reconciliation or reunion is practically lost sight of, under that of legal satisfaction or amends.)
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., Addr. 28. Need to plead it to attone for the imperfection of this Address.
1710. Palmer, Proverbs, xi. Fine language will never attone for want of manners.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 20, ¶ 7. Nothing can atone for the Want of Modesty.
1771. Junius Lett., liv. 288. He … has a multitude of political offences to atone for.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xix. 315. She would … give him a chance of atoning for the past.
5. trans. (by omission of for) To expiate, make amends for (a fault or loss).
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., 76. [This] I hope will attone the Digression.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1687), I. xxxi. 430. Other sacrifices … did in their way propitiate God and atone sin.
1799. Sheridan, Pizarro, V. iv. I will endeavour to atone the … errors.
1837. Lytton, Athens, II. 223. They endeavoured to atone the loss by the pursuit of Artabazus.
† b. To make expiation for (the offender). Obs.
1650. W. Brough, Sacr. Princ. (1659), 29. For thy dear Sons sake … By whom the world is attoned, O let me be reconciled to Thee.
1717. L. Welsted, Wks. (1787), 105. No victim can atone the impious age.
II. Of physical, expressional or artistic unity.
† 6. trans. To join in one, unite together. Obs.
1609. Heywood, Bryt. Troy, IV. xx. Their long diuided bodies they attone, And enter amorous parley.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., IX. 266. High built with pines, that heaven and earth attone.
1672. Davenant, Mistress (1673), 322. Your Eies and Hair atone the day and Night.
b. fig. To bring into artistic or logical harmony; to harmonize.
1691. E. Taylor, trans. Behmen’s Theos. Phil., 203. The contrary properties in him are … so attoned and in harmony.
1827. Hare, Guesses, I. 233. To atone our ideas with our perceptions.
c. absol. To produce a harmony of significance.
1862. Trench, Mirac., Introd. 76. That attempt to reconcile and atone between revelation and science, which [etc.].
7. intr. † a. To come together, unite. Obs.
1611. Heywood, Gold. Age, II. i. You neuer shall with hated men attone.
b. To harmonize in character or appearance.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Rich. II., 122. The Glorious flowers wch best attone Within a Chaplett.
1844. Ld. Houghton, Mem. Many Sc., 106. Welcome such thoughts! They well atone With this more serious mood.
