excuse

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ex=cuse
• COUNT in NET: 7 in 7 verses (in OT : 2 in 2 verses) (in NT : 5 in 5 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

excuse, v. t. [OE. escusen, cusen, OF. escuser, excuser, F. excuser, fr. L. excusare; ex out + causa cause, causari to plead. See Cause.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I must excuse what can not be amended."  [1913 Webster]
•  To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.  [1913 Webster]

  "And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.)
  No whiter page than Addison remains."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I pray thee have me excused."  [1913 Webster]
•  To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.  [1913 Webster]

  "Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you?"

Syn. -- To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit.

excuse, n. [Cf. F. excuse. See Excuse, v. t.].

•  The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.  [1913 Webster]

  "Pleading so wisely in excuse of it."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Hence with denial vain and coy excuse."  [1913 Webster]
•  That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "If eyes were made for seeing.
  Then beauty is its own excuse for being."

Syn. -- See Apology.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

excuse, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a person, act, or fault).
2 (of a fact or circumstance) serve in mitigation of (a person or act).
3 obtain exemption for (a person or oneself).
4 (foll. by from) release (a person) from a duty etc. (excused from supervision duties).
5 overlook or forgive (a fault or offence).
6 (foll. by for) forgive (a person) for a fault.
7 not insist upon (what is due).
8 refl. apologize for leaving.
--n.
1 a reason put forward to mitigate or justify an offence, fault, etc.
2 an apology (made my excuses).
3 (foll. by for) a poor or inadequate example of.

Idiom

be excused be allowed to leave a room etc., e.g. to go to the lavatory. excuse me a polite apology for lack of ceremony, for an interruption etc., or for disagreeing. excuse-me a dance in which dancers may interrupt other pairs to change partners.

Derivative

excusable adj. excusably adv. excusatory adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF escuser f. L excusare (as EX-(1), causa CAUSE, accusation)

THESAURUS

excuse

abject apology, absolution, absolve, acknowledgment, acquit, acquittal, acquittance, alibi, alibi out of, allow, amnesty, apologize for, apology, basis, be blind to, blind, breast-beating, cause, clear, clearance, clearing, cloak, color, compurgation, condonation, condone, confession, contrition, cop-out, cover, cover story, cover with excuses, cover-up, decontaminate, defence, defend, defense, destigmatization, destigmatize, destigmatizing, device, discharge, disculpation, dismiss, dismissal, dispense, dispense from, dispense with, disregard, escape, evasion, except, exculpate, exculpation, exempt, exempt from, exemption, exonerate, exoneration, explain, explanation, extenuate, extenuation, facade, feint, forgive, forgiveness, foundation, free, front, give absolution, give dispensation from, gloss, gloss over, grace, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, grounds, guise, handle, heedlessness, ignore, immunity, indemnity, indulgence, justification, justify, lame excuse, let go, let off, liberate, lie out of, likely story, locus standi, loophole, make apology for, makeshift, mask, mea culpa, mitigate, mitigation, nonpros, offer excuse for, ostensible motive, out, overlook, palliate, palliation, pardon, pass over, penitence, permit, plea, plead ignorance, poor excuse, pretense, pretension, pretext, protestation, public motive, purgation, purge, purging, put-off, quash the charge, quietus, quittance, rational ground, rationale, rationalization, rationalize, reason, reason for, reason why, redemption, refuge, regrets, release, relieve, remise, remission, remission of sin, remit, reprieve, right, save the necessity, screen, semblance, set free, sham, shift, show, shrift, shrive, shrug off, smoke screen, spare, sparing, squirm out of, stalking-horse, stall, stated cause, stopgap, story, stratagem, substitute, subterfuge, the big idea, the idea, the whatfor, the wherefore, the why, trick, underlying reason, varnish, veil, verdict of acquittal, vindicate, vindication, warrant, way out, whitewash, wink at, withdraw the charge, worm out of

ROGET THESAURUS

excuse

Pretext

N pretext, pretense, pretension, plea, allegation, advocation, ostensible motive, ostensible ground, ostensible reason, phony reason, excuse, subterfuge, color, gloss, guise, cover, loop hole, starting hole, how to creep out of, salvo, come off, way of escape, handle, peg to hang on, room locus standi, stalking-horse, cheval de bataille, cue, pretense, put off, dust thrown in the eyes, blind, moonshine, mere pretext, shallow pretext, lame excuse, lame apology, tub to a whale, false plea, sour grapes, makeshift, shift, white lie, special pleading, soft sawder, ostensibly, alleged, apologetic, pretended, ostensibly, under color, under the plea, under the pretense of, under the guise of.

VB pretend, plead, allege, shelter oneself under the plea of, excuse, lend a color to, furnish a handle, make a pretext of, make a handle of, use as a plea, take one's stand upon, make capital out of, pretend.

Exemption

VB not have, be without, excuse, be exempt, exempt, release, acquit, discharge, quitclaim, remise, remit, free, set at liberty, let off, pass over, spare, excuse, dispense with, give dispensation, license, stretch a point, absolve, exonerate, save the necessity, not have, be without, excuse, be exempt, exempt, release, acquit, discharge, quitclaim, remise, remit, free, set at liberty, let off, pass over, spare, excuse, dispense with, give dispensation, license, stretch a point, absolve, exonerate, save the necessity.

N exemption, absence, exception, immunity, privilege, release, exempt from, devoid of, without, unpossessed of, unblest with, immune from, not having, unpossessed, untenanted, without an owner, unobtained, unacquired, exemption, freedom, irresponsibility, immunity, liberty, license, release, exoneration, excuse, dispensation, absolution, franchise, renunciation, discharge, exculpation, exempt, free, immune, at liberty, scot-free, released, unbound, unencumbered, irresponsible, unaccountable, not answerable, excusable, bonis nocet quisquis pepercerit malis.

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.

Vindication

N vindication, justification, warrant, exoneration, exculpation, acquittal, whitewashing, extenuation, palliation, palliative, softening, mitigation, reply, defense, recrimination, apology, gloss, varnish, plea, salvo, excuse, extenuating circumstances, allowance, allowance to be made, locus paenitentiae, apologist, vindicator, justifier, defendant, justifiable charge, true bill, v, justify, warrant, be an excuse for, lend a color, furnish a handle, vindicate, exculpate, disculpate, acquit, clear, set right, exonerate, whitewash, clear the skirts of, extenuate, palliate, excuse, soften, apologize, varnish, slur, gloze, put a gloss, put a good face upon, mince, gloss over, bolster up, help a lame dog over a stile, advocate, defend, plead one's cause, stand up for, stick up for, speak up for, contend for, speak for, bear out, keep in countenance, support, plead, say in defense, plead ignorance, confess and avoid, propugn, put in a good word for, take the will for the deed, make allowance for, give credit for, do justice to, give one his due, give the Devil his due, make good, prove the truth of, prove one's case, be justified by the event, vindicated, vindicating, exculpatory, apologetic, excusable, defensible, pardonable, venial, veniable, specious, plausible, justifiable, honi sot qui mal y pense, good wine needs no bush, vindication, justification, warrant, exoneration, exculpation, acquittal, whitewashing, extenuation, palliation, palliative, softening, mitigation, reply, defense, recrimination, apology, gloss, varnish, plea, salvo, excuse, extenuating circumstances, allowance, allowance to be made, locus paenitentiae, apologist, vindicator, justifier, defendant, justifiable charge, true bill, v, justify, warrant, be an excuse for, lend a color, furnish a handle, vindicate, exculpate, disculpate, acquit, clear, set right, exonerate, whitewash, clear the skirts of, extenuate, palliate, excuse, soften, apologize, varnish, slur, gloze, put a gloss, put a good face upon, mince, gloss over, bolster up, help a lame dog over a stile, advocate, defend, plead one's cause, stand up for, stick up for, speak up for, contend for, speak for, bear out, keep in countenance, support, plead, say in defense, plead ignorance, confess and avoid, propugn, put in a good word for, take the will for the deed, make allowance for, give credit for, do justice to, give one his due, give the Devil his due, make good, prove the truth of, prove one's case, be justified by the event, vindicated, vindicating, exculpatory, apologetic, excusable, defensible, pardonable, venial, veniable, specious, plausible, justifiable, honi sot qui mal y pense, good wine needs no bush.