sin-eater
Corpse's moral proxy
A sin-eater was a person hired to symbolically absorb the sins of someone who had just died, typically by eating food placed on or near the corpse.
The practice, found in parts of Britain and Appalachia through the 19th century, was believed to free the deceased's soul for heaven.
Sin-eaters were outcasts, carrying the spiritual burden of others' transgressions.
The term now appears figuratively for anyone who takes on blame or guilt so others can move on clean: He became the sin-eater for the whole administration.
Formal clearing of guilt
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- communionProfound shared closeness
- exorcismRitual to expel demons
- riteCeremonial act or practice
funerary · deathbed · corpse · bread · ale · ceremony · purification · sacrifice
Recovery or moral restoration
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- expiationRedress for offense
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- transferenceRedirecting feelings to substitutes
confession · contrition · repentance · remorse · salvation · reconciliation · cleansing · absolution
Rejected, shunned person
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- untouchableExempt from criticism or harm
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- shunnedPersistently avoided socially
excommunication · marginalized · beggar · vagrant · pauper · itinerant · lowly · impoverished
Of a Celtic nation
- BritishOf the United Kingdom
- AppalachianEastern U.S. mountain region
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- legendUnverified traditional tale
custom · tradition · lore · mythology · folk belief · rural · parish · village
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- communionProfound shared closeness
- exorcismRitual to expel demons
rite · funerary · deathbed · corpse · bread · ale · ceremony · purification · sacrifice · oblation
redemption
Recovery or moral restoration
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- expiationRedress for offense
- guiltMoral self-reproach
transference · confession · contrition · repentance · remorse · salvation · reconciliation · cleansing · absolution · vicarious
pariah
Rejected, shunned person
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- untouchableExempt from criticism or harm
- stigmaMark of dishonor
shunned · excommunication · marginalized · beggar · vagrant · pauper · itinerant · lowly · impoverished · disgraced
Welsh
Of a Celtic nation
- BritishOf the United Kingdom
- AppalachianEastern U.S. mountain region
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
legend · custom · tradition · lore · mythology · folk belief · rural · parish · village · oral tradition