I. ik-ˈskyüz, imperatively often ˈskyüz transitive verb
( 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 from
2. : 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
II. ik-ˈskyüs noun
Date: 14th century
1. : the act of excusing
2.
a. : something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused
b. plural : an expression of regret for failure to do something
c. : a note of explanation of an absence
3. : justification , reason
Synonyms: see apology