Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Excuse
Ex-cuse′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Excused
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Excusing
.] [OE.
escusen
, cusen
, OF. escuser
, excuser
, F. excuser
, fr. L. excusare
; ex
out + causa
cause, causari
to plead. See Cause
.] 1.
To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.
A man’s persuasion that a thing is duty, will not
excuse
him from guilt in practicing it, if really and indeed it be against Gog's law. Abp. Sharp.
2.
To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook;
as, we
. excuse
irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify itI must
excuse
what can not be amended. Shakespeare
3.
To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.
And in our own (
No whiter page than Addison remains.
excuse
some courtly stains.)No whiter page than Addison remains.
Pope.
4.
To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact;
as, to
. excuse
a forfeitureI pray thee have me
excused
. xiv. 19.
5.
To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
Syn. – To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit.
-
To Pardon
, Excuse
, Forgive
. A superior pardons as an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or an equal excuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave offence, as one against law or morals, may be pardoned; a small fault, such as a failure in social or conventional obligations, slight omissions or neglects may be excused. Forgive relates to offenses against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to forgive injuries or one who has injured us; to pardon grave offenses, crimes, and criminals; to excuse an act of forgetfulness, an unintentional offense. Pardon is also a word of courtesy employed in the sense of excuse. 1.
The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.
Pleading so wisely in
excuse
of it. Shakespeare
2.
That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology;
as, an
excuse
for neglect of duty; excuses
for delay of payment.Hence with denial vain and coy
excuse
. Milton.
3.
That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.
“It hath the excuse of youth.” Shak.
Syn. – See
Apology
. Webster 1828 Edition
Excuse
EXCU'SE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To pardon; to free from the imputation of fault or blame; to acquit of guilt. We excuse a person in our own minds, when we acquit him of guilt or blame; or we excuse him by a declaration of that acquital.2.
To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook. We excuse a fault, which admits of apology or extenuation; and we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it.3.
To free from an obligation or duty.I pray thee have me excused. Luke 14.
4.
To remit; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.5.
To pardon; to admit an apology for.Excuse some courtly strains.
6.
To throw off an imputation by apology.Think you that we excuse ourselves to you? 2 cor.12.
7.
To justify; to vindicate.Their thoughts accusing or else excusing one another. Rom.2.
EXCU'SE
,Noun.
1.
The act of excusing or apologizing.2.
That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault. His inability to comply with the request must be his excuse.