From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Excuse \Ex*cuse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excused; p. pr. & vb.
n. Excusing.] [OE. escusen, cusen, OF. escuser, excuser, F.
excuser, fr. L. excusare; ex out + causa cause, causari to
plead. See Cause.]
1. To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or
blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to
justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve;
to acquit.
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A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not
excuse him from guilt in practicing it, if really
and indeed it be against Gog's law. --Abp. Sharp.
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2. To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to
be little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse
irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear
to justify it.
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I must excuse what can not be amended. --Shak.
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3. To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to
overlook; to pardon.
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And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.)
No whiter page than Addison remains. --Pope.
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4. To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to
disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to
remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.
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I pray thee have me excused. --xiv. 19.
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5. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make
apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or
indulgence for.
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Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? --2 Cor.
xii. 19.
Syn: To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit.
Usage: - To Pardon, Excuse, Forgive. A superior pardons
as an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or
an equal excuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave
offence, as one against law or morals, may be
pardoned; a small fault, such as a failure in social
or conventional obligations, slight omissions or
neglects may be excused. Forgive relates to offenses
against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to
forgive injuries or one who has injured us; to pardon
grave offenses, crimes, and criminals; to excuse an
act of forgetfulness, an unintentional offense. Pardon
is also a word of courtesy employed in the sense of
excuse.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Excuse \Ex*cuse"\, n. [Cf. F. excuse. See Excuse, v. t.]
1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning,
releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution;
justification; extenuation.
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Pleading so wisely in excuse of it. --Shak.
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2. That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a
plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular
deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty;
excuses for delay of payment.
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Hence with denial vain and coy excuse. --Milton.
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3. That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a
fault. "It hath the excuse of youth." --Shak.
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If eyes were made for seeing.
Then beauty is its own excuse for being. --Emerson.
Syn: See Apology.
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