pardon
pronunciation
How to pronounce pardon in British English:
UK [ˈpɑːdn]
How to pronounce pardon in American English:
US [ˈpɑːrdn]
-
- Noun:
- the act of excusing a mistake or offense
- a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
- the formal act of liberating someone
-
- Verb:
- accept an excuse for
- grant a pardon to
Word Origin
- pardon
- pardon: see date, forgive
- pardon (n.)
- late 13c., "papal indulgence," from Old French pardon, from pardoner "to grant; forgive" (11c., Modern French pardonner), "to grant, forgive," from Vulgar Latin *perdonare "to give wholeheartedly, to remit," from Latin per- "through, thoroughly" (see per) + donare "give, present" (see donation). Meaning "passing over an offense without punishment" is from c. 1300, also in the strictly ecclesiastical sense; sense of "pardon for a civil or criminal offense; release from penalty or obligation" is from late 14c. earlier in Anglo-French. Weaker sense of "excuse for a minor fault" is attested from 1540s.
- pardon (v.)
- mid-15c., "to forgive for offense or sin," from Old French pardoner (see pardon (n.)). 'I grant you pardon,' said Louis XV to Charolais, who, to divert himself, had just killed a man; 'but I also pardon whoever will kill you.' [Marquis de Sade, "Philosophy in the Bedroom"]Related: Pardoned; pardoning. Pardon my French as exclamation of apology for obscene language is from 1895.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Analysts think a pardon is unlikely .
- 2. General lee died in 1870 without receiving a pardon or having his citizenship restored .
- 3. In a committed relationship , you can not not communicate ( pardon the double negative ) .
- 4. Militants were offered an unconditional pardon and cash .
- 5. Lowry is accused of changing the date of the pardon from april 14 , 1864 to april 14 , 1865 .