browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about excuse
excuse |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Excuse \Ex*cuse"\, n. [Cf. F. excuse. See {Excuse}, v. t.] 1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation. Pleading so wisely in excuse of it --Shak. 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. If eyes were made for seeing. Then beauty is its own excuse for being --Emerson. Syn: See {Apology}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. 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 it I must excuse what can not be amended. --Shak. 3. To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon. And in our own (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 forfeiture. I 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 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: excuse n : a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable" [syn: {alibi}, {self-justification}] v 1: accept an excuse for "Please excuse my dirty hands" [syn: {pardon}] 2: grant exemption or release to "Please excuse me from this class [syn: {relieve}, {let off}, {exempt}] 3: serve as an excuse for [syn: {explain}] 4: make excuses for [syn: {apologize}, {apologise}, {justify}, {rationalize}] 5: ask for permission to be released from an engagement [syn: {beg off}] 6: excuse or make allowances for be lenient with "excuse someone's behavior" [syn: {condone}]
more about excuse
This work is licensed under a
