Excuse

n. [Lat. excusatio, Fr. excuscation, Sp. excusacion, Pr. excuzatio, It. escusazione, scusazione.] Excuse; apology. [Obs.] Bacon.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXCUSED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXCUSING.] [Fr. excuser, Pr. & Sp. excusar, Pr. & Pg. escusar, It. escusare, scusare, Lat. excusare, from ex, out of, from, and causa, cause, causari, to conduct a cause in law, to make a defense.] 1. To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to acquit of guilt; to release from a charge; to exculpate; to absolve. 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 God's law. 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 overlook; to pardon. Excuse some courtly stains, No whiter page than Addison's remains. Pope. 4. To free from an impending obligation or duty; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture. I pray thee have me excused. Luke 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 you that we excuse ourselves to you? 2 Cor. xii. 19.