Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2025 is "atone." To atone means to make amends for a mistake or bad behavior. It is an action taken to show remorse for wrongdoing. The word originates from the Middle English phrase "at on," meaning "in harmony." Originally, "atone" meant to reconcile and restore harmony between parties. In modern usage, it specifically refers to rectifying damage caused by one's own actions. The provided example illustrates this by showing a catcher making up for a previous error. He achieved this by hitting a home run that tied the game. This act demonstrated his attempt to atone for his earlier miscue. The novel mentioned also depicts characters trying to atone for a past act of cruelty.