excuse

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Usage notes 1.4.2 Synonyms 1.4.3 Translations 1.5 External links 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun 2.3 Verb

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

< Middle English excusen < Old French excuser < Latin excusare (“‘to excuse, allege in excuse, lit. free from a charge’”) < ex (“‘out’”) + causa (“‘a charge’”); see cause. Cf. accuse.

[edit] Pronunciation

• Verb:
  • AHD: ĭkskyo͞oz'
  • IPA: /ɪkˈskjuːz/ (UK), /ɛksˈkjuːz/ (UK), /ɪksˈkjuz/ (US)
  • SAMPA: /Iks"kju:z/ (UK), /Eks"kju:z/ (UK),

/Eks"kjuz/ (US)

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

• Noun:
  • AHD: ĭkskyo͞os'
  • IPA: /ɪkˈskjuːs/ (UK), /ɛksˈkjuːs/ (UK), /ɪksˈkjus/ (US)
  • SAMPA: /Iks"kju:s/ (UK), /Eks"kju:s/ (UK), /Eks"kjus/ (US)
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -uːz

[edit] Verb

to excuse (third-person singular simple present excuses, present participle excusing, simple past and past participle excused)

1. (transitive) To forgive; to pardon.

   I excused him his transgressions.

2. (transitive) To allow to leave.

   May I be excused from the table?

   I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard.

3. (transitive) To provide an excuse for; to explain, with the aim of alleviating guilt or negative judgement.

   You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!

[edit] Synonyms

• (forgive): forgive, let off the hook, let pass, pardon

[edit] Derived terms

• excuse me
• excuse my French

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

excuse (plural excuses)

1. An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement.

   Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!

[edit] Usage notes

• We often say to make an excuse.
  See also Appendix:MakeDoTakeHave

[edit] Synonyms

• (explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement): pretext

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• excuse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• excuse in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio^{help, file}
• IPA: /eks.kyz/

[edit] Noun

excuse f. (plural excuses)

1. excuse

[edit] Verb

excuse

1. First-person singular present indicative of excuser.
2. Third-person singular present indicative of excuser.
3. First-person singular present subjunctive of excuser.
4. Third-person singular present subjunctive of excuser.
5. Second-person singular imperative of excuser .