Ex*cuse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Excused (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Excusing.] [OE. escusen, cusen, OF.
escuser, excuser, F. excuser, fr. L.
excusare; ex out + causa cause, causari
to plead. See Cause.] 1. 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.
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.
Abp. 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 view
leniently or to overlook; to pardon.
And in our own (excuse some courtly
stains.)
No whiter page than Addison remains.
Pope.
4. 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.
I pray thee have me excused.
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 ye that we excuse ourselves to
you?
2 Cor. xii. 19.
Syn. -- To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit. - To
Pardon, Excuse, Forgive. A superior pardons
as an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or an equal
excuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave offence, as one
against law or morals, may be pardoned; a small fault, such as
a failure in social or conventional obligations, slight omissions or
neglects may be excused. Forgive relates to offenses
against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to forgive
injuries or one who has injured us; to pardon grave offenses,
crimes, and criminals; to excuse an act of forgetfulness, an
unintentional offense. Pardon is also a word of courtesy
employed in the sense of excuse.
Ex*cuse" (?), n. [Cf. F. excuse.
See Excuse, v. t.] 1.
The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning,
releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution;
justification; extenuation.
Pleading so wisely in excuse of
it.
Shak.
2. 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.
Hence with denial vain and coy
excuse.
Milton.
3. That which excuses; that which extenuates
or justifies a fault. "It hath the excuse of youth."
Shak.
If eyes were made for seeing.
Then beauty is its own excuse for being.
Emerson.
Syn. -- See Apology.
