When:
Lookups spiked on November 14, 2013.
Why:
It was widely used in accounts of President Obama's press conference about the troubled roll-out of the new health care law.
For example, as USA Today reported, "Not a person given to public introspection or apology, [Obama's] tone was contrite and even confessional at times."
Contrite means "feeling or showing regret for bad behavior." It comes from the Latin word that means "bruised" or "crushed."
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged