pardon Hear it!

pardon Definition

par·don (pärd'n)

transitive verb

  1. to release (a person) from further punishment for a crime
  2. to cancel or not exact penalty for (an offense); forgive
    1. to excuse or forgive (a person) for some minor fault, discourtesy, etc.
    2. to overlook (a discourtesy, etc.)

Etymology: ME pardonen < OFr pardoner < LL perdonare < L per-, through, quite (see per-) + donare, to give: see date

noun

  1. a pardoning or being pardoned; forgiveness
  2. an official document granting a pardon

Etymology: ME < OFr

  1. pardon me: a mild apology
  2. please repeat what you have said: a request for information or clarification, often with the rising intonation of a question

pardon Related Forms
par·don·able adjective par·don·ably adverb
pardon Idioms

I beg your pardon!

excuse me!: a polite formula of apology, disagreement, etc.

pardon Synonyms

pardon

n.

  1. The reduction or removal of punishment

    absolution, grace, remission, amnesty, leniency, clemency, exoneration, discharge, exculpation; see also acquittal, mercy 1.

    Antonyms punishment*, condemnation, conviction.

  2. Forgiveness

    excuse, forbearance, conciliation; see forgiveness, kindness 1.

  3. A statement granting pardon, sense 1

    reprieve, acquittal, exoneration, indulgence, amnesty, release, discharge; see also acquittal, freeing.

pardon Synonyms

pardon

v.

  1. To reduce punishment

    exonerate, exculpate, clear, absolve, remit, reprieve, acquit, set free, liberate, discharge, spring*, justify, suspend charges, put on probation, grant amnesty to; see also absolve, free 1, release.

    Antonyms punish*, penalize, sentence.

  2. To forgive

    excuse, condone, overlook, exculpate; see excuse, forgive 1. See syn. study at absolve.

pardon Law Definition
pardon Usage Examples

Object

  • pun: Moor Trees, if you'll pardon the pun.
  • mercy: While grace pardons the guilty, mercy relieves the miserable.
  • expression: And made a right pig's ear of it, if you'll pardon the expression.
  • prisoner: In the days that followed the king attended to his people, pardoning prisoners, and giving presents and new clothing to the poor.

Converse of object

  • beg: Ferrers ordered the man to kneel and to beg pardon.
  • grant: Why did the hard man of the Tory party grant a rare royal pardon?
  • obtain: He wrote to the Bishop of Winchester who went to the King and obtained a pardon for Marbeck.
  • ask: Then I ask the pardon of the rest of the company.
  • seek: The shortness and uncertainty of life are strong reasons for seeking pardon and salvation now.
  • receive: He received a pardon for the work he performed during a yellow fever outbreak in the fort.

Adjective modifier

  • posthumous: Derek Bentley was finally granted a well deserved posthumous pardon in 1998.
  • presidential: Efforts on behalf of the three have focused on obtaining either a retrial or a presidential pardon.
  • conditional: The Census shows: George, aged 47 holder of a conditional pardon who came on the Somersetshire in 1814.
  • royal: Why did the hard man of the Tory party grant a rare royal pardon?
  • free: Do not refuse the free pardon, the full salvation which Jesus grants to all who trust Him.

Modifying Another Word

  • freely: Turn to the LORD and He will have mercy on you, and to our God, for He will freely pardon you.

Noun used with modifier

  • O: O pardon me: Extremity, that sharpens sundry wits, Makes me a Foole.
  • I: Good maids and wives, I pardon crave, And lack not that which you would have.

Preposition: of

  • sin: Prayers for peace, for want to cease And prayers for pardon of sins ' ere done ' .

Preposition: for

  • sin: Dost thou want a pardon for all thy sins?
pardon Quotes

Sleep; and if life was bitter to thee, pardon, If sweet, give thanks; thou hast no more to live; And to give thanks isgood, and to forgive.

—Swinburne, Algernon Charles

The stars are dead. The animals will not look: We are left alone with our day, and the time is short, and History to the defeated May say Alas but cannot help nor pardon.

—Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

Forgiveness to the injured does belong; But they ne'er pardon, who have done the wrong.

—Dryden,John

   Pardon me boy is that the Chattanooga Choo-choo, Track twenty nine, Boy you can give me a shine.

—Gordon, Mack

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

—Franklin, Benjamin

Browse dictionary entries near pardon

  1. pardner
  2. pardie
  3. pard
  4. parchment
  5. parching
  6. Parcheesi
  7. parched
  8. parch
  9. parcener
  10. parcenary
  1. pardonable
  2. pardoned
  3. pardoner
  4. pare
  5. paregoric
  6. pareira
  7. pareira (brava)
  8. paren
  9. parenchyma
  10. parens patriae