Main Entry:

¹ex·cuse

Pronunciation:

\ik-ˈskyüz, imperatively often ˈskyüz\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

ex·cused; ex·cus·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French escuser, excuser, from Latin excusare, from ex- + causa cause, explanation

Date:

13th century

1 a: to make apology for b: to try to remove blame from2: to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable <graciously excused his tardiness>3 a: to grant exemption or release to <was excused from jury duty> b: to allow to leave <excused the class>4: to serve as excuse for : justify <nothing can excuse such neglect>

— ex·cus·able \ik-ˈskyü-zə-bəl\ adjective

— ex·cus·able·ness noun

— ex·cus·ably \-blē\ adverb

— ex·cus·er noun

synonyms excuse, condone, pardon, forgive mean to exact neither punishment nor redress. excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these <excuse an interruption> <excused them for interrupting>. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances <injustice excuses strong responses>. condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it <a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics>. pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense <pardon a criminal>. forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings <could not forgive their rudeness>.