excuse
[ verb ik-skyooz; noun ik-skyoos ]
/ verb ɪkˈskyuz; noun ɪkˈskyus /
verb (used with object), ex·cused, ex·cus·ing.
noun
Idioms for excuse
Excuse me,
(used as a polite expression, as when addressing a stranger, when interrupting or disagreeing with someone, or to request repetition of what has just been said.)
Origin of excuse
SYNONYMS FOR excuse
1
Excuse,
forgive,
pardon imply being lenient or giving up the wish to punish.
Excuse means to overlook some (usually) slight offense:
to excuse bad manners.
Forgive is applied to excusing more serious offenses:
to forgive and forget.
Pardon usually applies to a specific act of lenience or mercy by an official or superior:
The governor was asked to pardon the condemned criminal.
3 extenuate, palliate.
4 free.
8 justification.
Excuse,
apology both imply an explanation of some failure or failing.
Excuse implies a desire to avoid punishment or rebuke.
Apology usually implies acknowledgment that one has been in the wrong.
11 pretense, evasion, makeshift.
OTHER WORDS FROM excuse
Words nearby excuse
excursive,
excursus,
excurvature,
excurved,
excusatory,
excuse,
excuse me,
excuse-me,
excuss,
excussio,
excycloduction
British Dictionary definitions for excuse-me (1 of 2)
excuse-me
noun
a dance in which a person may take another's partner
British Dictionary definitions for excuse-me (2 of 2)
excuse
verb (ɪkˈskjuːz) (tr)
noun (ɪkˈskjuːs)
Derived forms of excuse
excusable, adjective excusableness, noun excusably, adverbWord Origin for excuse
C13: from Latin
excusāre, from
ex-
1 +
-cūsare, from
causa cause, accusation