excuse

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English excusen (verb) and excuse (noun), borrowed from Old French escuser (verb) and excuse (noun), from Latin excūsō, excūsāre (“to excuse, allege in excuse, literally, free from a charge”), from ex (“out”) + causa (“a charge”); see cause, accuse and recuse. Displaced native Old English lād (“an excuse”) and lādian (“to excuse”). === Pronunciation === Verb (UK) enPR: ĭkskyo͞oz', IPA(key): /ɪkˈskjuːz/, /ɛksˈkjuːz/ (US) enPR: ĭkskyo͞oz', IPA(key): /ɪksˈkjuz/, /ɛksˈkjuz/ Rhymes: -uːz Noun (UK) enPR: ĭkskyo͞os', IPA(key): /ɪkˈskjuːs/, /ɛksˈkjuːs/ (US) enPR: ĭkskyo͞os', IPA(key): /ɪksˈkjus/, /ɛksˈkjus/ Rhymes: -uːs === Verb === excuse (third-person singular simple present excuses, present participle excusing, simple past and past participle excused) (transitive) To forgive; to pardon; to overlook. (transitive) To allow to leave, or release from any obligation. (transitive) To provide an excuse for; to justify. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for. ==== Synonyms ==== (to release from guilt, shame, or punishment): forgive, let off the hook, let pass, pardon, unguilt plead (justify): plead, adduce, ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “to release from guilt, shame, or punishment”): blame, punish ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === excuse (countable and uncountable, plural excuses) (countable, uncountable) An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault. Synonym: cop-out (law) A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts. (often with preceding negative adjective, especially sorry, poor, or lame) An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality. ==== Usage notes ==== We often say to make an excuse. ==== Synonyms ==== (explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment): pretext release, clear, justify, forgive, tolerate, overlook, exempt, pardon, discharge, pretext, bear with, acquit, exonerate, absolve, pretense, vindicate. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === rationalization === Further reading === “excuse”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “excuse”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. == French == === Etymology === Deverbal from excuser. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɛk.skyz/ (colloquial) IPA(key): /ɛs.kyz/ === Noun === excuse f (plural excuses) excuse === Verb === excuse inflection of excuser: first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive second-person singular imperative === Further reading === “excuse”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Latin == === Participle === excūse vocative masculine singular of excūsus == Spanish == === Verb === excuse inflection of excusar: first/third-person singular present subjunctive third-person singular imperative