I. ˈpärd ə n, ˈpȧd- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pardoun, from Old French pardon, from pardonner — more at pardon II
1.
a. : the excusing of an offense without exacting a penalty : remission of punishment
b. : divine forgiveness
2. Roman Catholicism
a. : indulgence
b. : a festival at which an indulgence is granted
3.
a. : a release by a sovereign or an officer having jurisdiction from the legal penalties or consequences of an offense or of a conviction
b. : an act of grace of the pardoning authority granted before or after conviction to one person by name or a number (as a class) of persons conditionally or absolutely or in any other form within the power of the pardoning authority — compare amnesty 2
4. : an official warrant of remission of penalty
5.
a. : excuse or forgiveness for a fault, offense, or discourtesy
begged my pardon for his clumsiness
— often used in polite apology or contradiction
I beg your pardon , but I think not
b. : excuse for failure to hear or understand
beg pardon
Synonyms:
amnesty , absolution : pardon in the sense here dealt with indicates a remission of punishment or penalty, entirely effective but without indicating exoneration from guilt
a royal pardon later freed him from a death sentence — American Guide Series: Maryland
decided that a parole wasn't enough — he wanted a full pardon — Green Peyton
amnesty indicates a general remission of punishment, penalty, retribution, or disfavor to a whole group or class; it may imply a promise to forget
a proclamation of universal amnesty … finally restored the civil rights of Jefferson Davis and a handful of others — A.D.Kirwan
issued a general amnesty for all those who were imprisoned under the emergency decrees — C.E.Black & E.C.Helmreich
absolution may indicate a formal acquittal in law or a definitive remission of punishment for sin in religion.
II. verb
( pardoned ; pardoned ; pardoning -d( ə )niŋ ; pardons )
Etymology: Middle English pardonen, from Middle French pardoner, pardonner to give, pardon, from Late Latin perdonare to give with all one's heart, from Latin per-, intensive prefix (from per through) + donare to give — more at for , donation
transitive verb
1. : to absolve from the consequences of a fault or the punishment of crime : free from penalty
2. : to remit the penalty of (an offense) : allow to pass without punishment : forgive
3. obsolete : to refrain from exacting as a penalty
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it — Shakespeare
4. : to make allowance for : tolerate — often used in courteous denial or apology
intransitive verb
: to grant pardon or forgiveness
Synonyms: see excuse