Pardon

• POS: Interjection, Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: par=don

CIDE DICTIONARY

Pardon, n. [F., fr. pardonner to pardon. See Pardon, v. t.].

•  The act of pardoning; forgiveness, as of an offender, or of an offense; release from penalty; remission of punishment; absolution.  [1913 Webster]

  "Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings."  [1913 Webster]

  "But infinite in pardon was my judge."  [1913 Webster]
•  An official warrant of remission of penalty.  [1913 Webster]

  "Sign me a present pardon for my brother."  [1913 Webster]
•  The state of being forgiven.  South.  [1913 Webster]
•  A release, by a sovereign, or officer having jurisdiction, from the penalties of an offense, being distinguished from amnesty, which is a general obliteration and canceling of a particular line of past offenses.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Forgiveness; remission. See Forgiveness.

Pardon, v. t. [Either fr. pardon, n., or from F. pardonner, LL. perdonare; L. per through, thoroughly, perfectly + donare to give, to present. See Par-, and Donation.].

•  To absolve from the consequences of a fault or the punishment of crime; to free from penalty; -- applied to the offender.  [1913 Webster]

  "In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant."  [1913 Webster]

  "I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily, pardon me."  [1913 Webster]
•  To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; -- applied to offenses.  [1913 Webster]

  "I pray thee, pardon my sin."  [1913 Webster]

  "Apollo, pardon
  My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!"  [1913 Webster]
•  To refrain from exacting as a penalty.  [1913 Webster]

  "I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it."  [1913 Webster]
•  To give leave (of departure) to.  [1913 Webster]

  "Even now about it! I will pardon you."  [1913 Webster]

Pardon me, forgive me; excuse me; -- a phrase used also to express courteous denial or contradiction, or to request forgiveness for a mild transgression, such as bumping a person while passing.

Syn. -- To forgive; absolve; excuse; overlook; remit; acquit. See Excuse.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Pardon, n., v., & int.
--n.
1 the act of excusing or forgiving an offence, error, etc.
2 (in full free pardon) a remission of the legal consequences of a crime or conviction.
3 RC Ch. an indulgence.
--v.tr.
1 release from the consequences of an offence, error, etc.
2 forgive or excuse a person for (an offence etc.).
3 make (esp. courteous) allowances for; excuse.
--int. (also pardon me or I beg your pardon)
1 a formula of apology or disagreement.
2 a request to repeat something said.

Derivative

pardonable adj. pardonably adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF pardun, pardoner f. med.L perdonare concede, remit (as PER-, donare give)

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Pardon

v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.

THESAURUS

Pardon

absolution, absolve, accept, acquit, acquittal, acquittance, allow, allowance, amnesty, benevolence, clear, clearance, clearing, clemency, commiseration, compassion, compurgation, condolence, condonation, condone, decontaminate, destigmatization, destigmatize, destigmatizing, discharge, disculpation, dismiss, dismissal, dispense from, exculpate, exculpation, excusal, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exemption, exonerate, exoneration, favor, feeling, forbear, forbearance, forgive, forgiveness, forgiving, free, give absolution, give quarter, grace, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, have mercy upon, have pity, humanity, immunity, indemnification, indemnity, indulge, indulgence, justification, justify, kindness, leniency, let go, let off, let up on, liberate, melt, mercy, mitigation, nonpros, overlook, overlooking, pathos, pity, purgation, purge, purging, quarter, quash the charge, quietus, quittance, redemption, relax, release, relent, relief, remission, remission of sin, remit, reprieve, ruth, self-pity, set free, shrift, shrive, small-town, spare, sparing, sympathy, take pity on, thaw, tolerate, verdict of acquittal, vindicate, vindication, whitewash, withdraw the charge

ROGET THESAURUS

Pardon

Acquittal

N acquittal, acquitment, clearance, exculpation, acquittance, clearance, exoneration, discharge, quietus, absolution, compurgation, reprieve, respite, pardon, impunity, diplomatic immunity, immunity, plea bargain, deal with the prosecutor, no cause for action, no damages, acquitted, uncondemned, unpunished, unchastised, not guilty, not proven, not liable, nemo bis punitur pro codem delicto.

VB acquit, exculpate, exonerate, clear, absolve, whitewash, assoil, discharge, release, liberate, reprieve, respite, pardon, let off, let off scot- free, drop the charges, plea bargain, strike a deal, no-cause (in civil suits), get no-caused.

Forgiveness

N forgiveness, pardon, condonation, grace, remission, absolution, amnesty, oblivion, indulgence, reprieve, conciliation, reconcilement, reconciliation, propitiation, excuse, exoneration, quittance, release, indemnity, bill of indemnity, act of indemnity, covenant of indemnity, deed of indemnity, exculpation, longanimity, placability, amantium irae, locus paenitentiae, forbearance, forgiving, placable, conciliatory, forgiven, unresented, unavenged, unrevenged, cry you mercy, veniam petimusque damusque vicissim, more in sorrow than in anger, comprendre tout c'est tout pardonner, the offender never pardons.

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.