Excusing

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Excuse \Ex*cuse"\, v. 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.
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              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.
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     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 it.
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              I must excuse what can not be amended. --Shak.
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     3. To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to
        overlook; to pardon.
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              And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.)
              No whiter page than Addison remains.  --Pope.
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     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 forfeiture.
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              I pray thee have me excused.          --xiv. 19.
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     5. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make
        apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or
        indulgence for.
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              Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? --2 Cor.
                                                    xii. 19.
  
     Syn: To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit.
  
     Usage: - {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.
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