fə(r)ˈgiv also fȯ(r)ˈ- verb
( for·gave -ˈgāv ; for·giv·en -ˈgivən, -ib ə m ; forgiving ; forgives )
Etymology: Middle English foryeven, foryiven, forgeven, forgiven, from Old English forgiefan, forgifan (akin to Old Saxon fargeƀan to give, forgive, promise, Old High German firgeban to give, forgive, Gothic fragiban to forgive), from for- + giefan, gifan to give — more at give
transitive verb
1. : to cease to feel resentment against on account of wrong committed : give up claim to requital from or retribution upon (an offender) : absolve , pardon
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing — Lk 23:34 (NCE)
2.
a. : to give up resentment of or claim to requital for (an offense or wrong) : remit the penalty of
and their sins should be forgiven them — Mk 4:12 (Authorized Version)
b. : to grant relief from : refrain from exacting
forgave his tenants thousands of dollars in back rent
a loophole in the tax law that forgives all if a taxpayer is out of the U.S. — Time
intransitive verb
: to grant forgiveness
Synonyms: see excuse