condone

[ kuh n-dohn ]
/ kənˈdoʊn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR condone ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), con·doned, con·don·ing.

to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like): The government condoned the computer hacking among rival corporations.
to give tacit approval to: By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior.
to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse: His employers are willing to condone the exaggerations they uncovered in his résumé.
to cause the condonation of; justify the pardoning of (an offense).
Law. to forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of (a violation of the marriage vow): His spouse condoned his infidelity from the early years of their marriage.

Origin of condone

1615–25, but in general currency from its use in the British Divorce Act of 1857 (see def. 5); < Latin condōnāre to absolve, grant pardon, equivalent to con- con- + dōnāre to give; see donate

OTHER WORDS FROM condone

con·don·a·ble, adjective con·don·er, noun un·con·doned, adjective un·con·don·ing, adjective

Words nearby condone

condolent, condom, condominium, condon, condonation, condone, condor, condorcet, condottiere, conduce, conducive

Words related to condonable

probable, acceptable, logical, admissible, valid, understandable, legitimate, reasonable, lawful, proper, defensible, allowable, plausible, justifiable, arguable, rational, permissible, tenable, excusable, fair

Example sentences from the Web for condonable

  • Her nationality—her history—furnished adequate excuse for an attitude not condonable in a European equally cultured.

    The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu |Sax Rohmer

British Dictionary definitions for condonable

condone
/ (kənˈdəʊn) /

verb (tr)

to overlook or forgive (an offence)
law (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)

Derived forms of condone

condonable, adjective condonation (ˌkɒndəʊˈneɪʃən), noun condoner, noun

Word Origin for condone

C19: from Latin condōnāre to remit a debt, from com- (intensive) + dōnāre to donate