pardon
[ pahr-dn ]
/ ˈpɑr dn /
noun
verb (used with object)
interjection
(used, with rising inflection, as an elliptical form of I beg your pardon, as when asking a speaker to repeat something not clearly heard or understood.)
Origin of pardon
1250–1300; Middle English (noun and v.) < Old French
pardon (noun) remission, indulgence, noun derivative of
pardoner (v.) < Medieval Latin
perdōnāre to remit, overlook, literally, to forgive, equivalent to Latin
per-
for- (see
per-) +
dōnāre to give; see
donate; Medieval Latin v. perhaps a translation from Germanic
SYNONYMS FOR pardon
3
absolution,
remission.
Pardon,
amnesty,
reprieve are nouns referring to the cancellation, or delay with the possibility of eventual cancellation, of a punishment or penalty assigned for the violation of a military regulation or a civil law; absolution from guilt is not implied, merely a remission of the penalty. A
pardon is granted to an individual, often by the action of a government official such as a governor, president, or monarch, and releases the individual from any punishment due for the infraction of the law, as a death sentence, prison term, or fine:
to be released from prison with a full pardon. An
amnesty is a pardon granted to a group of persons for past offenses against a government; it often includes an assurance of no future prosecution:
to grant amnesty to political prisoners; an amnesty period for delinquent taxpayers during which no penalties are assessed. A
reprieve is a delay of impending punishment, especially a death sentence; it does not cancel or remit the punishment, it simply delays it, usually for a specific period of time or until a decision can be arrived at as to the possibility of pardon or reduction of sentence:
a last-minute reprieve, allowing the filing of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
6 acquit, clear. See
excuse.
7 forgive, absolve, condone, overlook.
OTHER WORDS FROM pardon
Words nearby pardon
Example sentences from the Web for pardonable
British Dictionary definitions for pardonable
pardon
/ (ˈpɑːdən) /
verb (tr)
to excuse or forgive (a person) for (an offence, mistake, etc)
to pardon someone; to pardon a fault
noun
forgiveness; allowance
- release from punishment for an offence
- the warrant granting such release
a Roman Catholic indulgence
sentence substitute
Also: pardon me, I beg your pardon
- sorry; excuse me
- what did you say?
Derived forms of pardon
pardonable, adjective pardonably, adverb pardonless, adjectiveWord Origin for pardon
C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin
perdōnum, from
perdōnāre to forgive freely, from Latin
per (intensive) +
dōnāre to grant
Idioms and Phrases with pardonable
pardon
see beg to differ; excuse me.