Lexic.us

Definition of Excuse

1. Noun. A defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.. "His transparent self-justification was unacceptable"

2. Verb. Accept an excuse for. "Please excuse my dirty hands"

3. Noun. A note explaining an absence. "He had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"

4. Verb. Grant exemption or release to. "Sam cannot excuse Sue "; "Please excuse me from this class"

5. Noun. A poor example. "A poor excuse for an automobile"

6. Verb. Serve as a reason or cause or justification of. "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"

7. Verb. Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning. "He rationalized his lack of success"

8. Verb. Ask for permission to be released from an engagement.

9. Verb. Excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with. "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"

Definition of Excuse

1. v. t. 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.

2. n. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.

Definition of Excuse

1. to apologize for [v -CUSED, -CUSING, -CUSES]

Medical Definition of Excuse

1. 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. "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) 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. "I must excuse what can not be amended." (Shak) 3. To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon. "And in our own (excuse some courtly stains) No whiter page than Addison remains." (Pope) 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. "I pray thee have me excused." (xiv. 19) 5. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for. "Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you?" (2 Cor. Xii. 19) Synonym: To vindicate, exculpate, absolve, acquit. - 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. Origin: OE. Escusen, cusen, OF. Escuser, excuser, F. Excuser, fr. L. Excusare; ex out + causa cause, causari to plead. See Cause. 1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation. "Pleading so wisely in excuse of it." (Shak) 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. "Hence with denial vain and coy excuse." (Milton) 3. That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault. "It hath the excuse of youth." "If eyes were made for seeing. Then beauty is its own excuse for being." (Emerson) Synonym: See Apology. Origin: Cf. F. Excuse. See Excuse. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Excuse

excursively excursiveness excursivenesses excursus excursuses excusable excusableness excusablenesses excusably excusal

excusals excusation excusatory excusatory excuse (current term) excuse (current term) excused excuseless excuser excusers

excuses excusing excusive excycloduction excyclophoria excyclotorsion excyclotropia excyclovergence excystation exduction

Other Resources: