Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-TONE', v.i. [Supposed to be compounded of at and one. The Spanish has adunar, to unite or join, and the Ital. adunare, to assemble; from L. ad and unus, unio. In Welsh, dyun signifies united, accordant, agreeing; dyunaw, to unite or agree; from un, one, and dy, a prefix denoting iteration.]

1. To agree; to be in accordance; to accord. He and Aufidius can no more atone, / Than violentest contrariety. – Shak. [This sense is obsolete.]
2. To stand as an equivalent; to make reparation, amends or satisfaction for an offense or a crime, by which reconciliation is procured between the offended and offending parties. The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood. – Pope. By what propitiation shall I atone for my former gravity. – Rambler, No. 10. The life of a slave was deemed to be of so little value, that a very slight compensation atoned for taking it away. – Robertson, Charles V.
3. To atone for, to make compensation or amends. This evil was atoned for by the good effects of the study of the practical physics of Aristotle. – Schlegel, Trans. The ministry not atoning for their former conduct by any wise or popular measure. – Junius.