Forgive

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: for=give

CIDE DICTIONARY

Forgive, v. t. [OE. forgiven, foryiven, foryeven, AS. forgiefan, forgifan; perh. for- + giefan, gifan to give; cf. D. vergeven, G. vergeben, Icel. fyrirgefa, Sw. frgifva, Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See For-, and Give, v. t.].

•  To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to resign.  [1913 Webster]

  "To them that list the world's gay shows I leave,
  And to great ones such folly do forgive."  [1913 Webster]
•  To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of (an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon; -- said in reference to the act forgiven.  [1913 Webster]

  "And their sins should be forgiven them."  [1913 Webster]

  "He forgive injures so readily that he might be said to invite them."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong committed; to give up claim to requital from or retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; -- said of the person offending.  [1913 Webster]

  " Sometimes both the person and the offense follow as objects of the verb, sometimes one and sometimes the other being the indirect object. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Matt. vi. 12. “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matt. ix. 2."

  "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  [1913 Webster]

  "I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- See excuse.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Forgive, v.tr. (also absol. or with double object) (past forgave; past part. forgiven)
1 cease to feel angry or resentful towards; pardon (an offender or offence) (forgive us our mistakes).
2 remit or let off (a debt or debtor).

Derivative

forgivable adj. forgivably adv. forgiver n.

Etymology

OE forgiefan (as FOR-, GIVE)

THESAURUS

Forgive

abolish, absolve, acquit, allow, amnesty, cancel, clear, condone, consign to oblivion, decontaminate, delete, destigmatize, discharge, dismiss, dispense from, disregard, erase, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, forbear, forgive and forget, free, give absolution, give quarter, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, have mercy upon, have pity, ignore, indulge, justify, let go, let off, let up on, make allowances for, melt, nonpros, nullify, obliterate, overlook, pardon, pass over, purge, quash the charge, relax, release, relent, remit, reprieve, set free, shrive, spare, take pity on, thaw, vindicate, void, waive, whitewash, withdraw the charge

ROGET THESAURUS

Forgive

Forgiveness

VB forgive, forgive and forget, pardon, condone, think no more of, let bygones be bygones, shake hands, forget an injury, excuse, pass over, overlook, wink at, bear with, allow for, make allowances for, let one down easily, not be too hard upon, pocket the affront, let off, remit, absolve, give absolution, reprieve, acquit, beg pardon, ask pardon, implore pardon, conciliate, propitiate, placate, make up a quarrel, let the wound heal.