excuse

Excuse is defined as to forgive, pardon or free from an obligation.

(verb)

An example of to excuse is to allow a child to leave the table after dinner.

The definition of an excuse is an explanation or a reason for an action.

(noun)

An example of an excuse is a student saying that his dog ate his homework.

See excuse in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb excused, excusing

to try to free (a person) of blame; seek to exonerate
to try to minimize or pardon (a fault); apologize or give reasons for
to consider (an offense or fault) as not important; overlook; pardon: excuse my rudeness
to release from an obligation, duty, promise, etc.
to permit to leave
to serve as an explanation or justification for; justify; exculpate; absolve: a selfish act that nothing will excuse

Origin: ME excusen < OFr escuser & L excusare, to free from a charge < L ex-, from + causa, a charge: see cause

noun

See excuse in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ex·cused, ex·cus·ing, ex·cus·es

a. To explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood: He arrived late and excused his tardiness in a flimsy manner.
b. To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late.
a. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.
b. To make allowance for; overlook: Readers must excuse the author's youth and inexperience. See Synonyms at forgive.
To serve as justification for: Brilliance does not excuse bad manners.
To free, as from an obligation or duty; exempt: In my state, physicians and lawyers are excused from jury duty.
To give permission to leave; release: The child ate quickly and asked to be excused.

noun (ĭk-skyo͞osˈ)

An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.
A reason or grounds for excusing: Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.
The act of excusing.
A note explaining an absence.
Informal An inferior example: a poor excuse for a poet; a sorry excuse for a car.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English excusen

Origin: , from Old French excuser

Origin: , from Latin excūsāre

Origin: : ex-, ex-

Origin: + causa, accusation; see cause

Related Forms: