excusen.
/ᵻkˈskjuːs/, /ɛkˈskjuːs/, U.S. /ɪkˈskjus/, /ɛkˈskjus/ 1. The action of excuse v.† c. The action of releasing (a person) from an obligation; a dispensation, release. Obsolete.
a. The action of offering an apology for a person, or in extenuation of an offence. Const. of or possessive case of personal pron. Now rare except in phrase in excuse of. Also rarely the action of begging off from a duty or obligation.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > [noun] > offering an excuse
excusinga1340
excusec1374
excusationc1380
scusationc1430
c1374 G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 308 Yf þat I to yowe myne othes beede For myn excuse a scorne shall be my mede.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 177 Ser Robert..sent him mech tresoure, and þan he cam to his excuse.
1477 W. Caxton in Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (1877) lf. 75 For excuse of the saide socrates.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. BBiiiv After that folowed doublenesse and excuse of his synne.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles vii. 100 Come Gentlemen..Euen in your Armours..I will not haue excuse . View more context for this quotation
1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour ii. i. sig. D1v Letters..in excuse Of these forces sent against her.
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 20 in Justa Edouardo King Hence with deniall vain, and coy excuse.
1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) I. iv. 73 In excuse of their conduct it is said [etc.].
1823 J. Lingard Hist. Eng. VI. 251 Henry pleaded the scruples of his conscience in excuse of his precipitancy.
1825 E. Bulwer-Lytton Zicci i. i The old woman gave me a note of excuse.
b. The action of looking indulgently upon an offender or an offence; consideration, indulgence, pardon.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > forgiveness > [noun]
forgivenessc900
givenessc1200
remission?c1225
veny?c1225
gracec1300
forgiftc1315
excusinga1340
absolutiona1393
pardona1393
veynea1425
pardoningc1443
pardonancec1475
forgivance1490
remit1490
oblivion1563
remitting1577
remittance1602
remitment1611
condonation1615
excuse1655
condonance1865
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > [noun] > tolerance or forbearance > of faults of others
charity1483
pardon1548
excuse1655
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 50 I will..condemne without excuse those that deserve it.
1675 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 318 He begs your Excys Excuse that you doe not heare from him by this post.
1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. Pref. p. xxiii I heartily crave the Excuse and Pardon of every such Reader.
a1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1846) 25 I see my fau'ts..And now I'm come to beg for your excuse.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. vi. 90 He pray'd excuse for mirth broke short.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [noun] > release from duty or obligation
remission?1316
loosingc1357
releasec1390
releasing1395
discharginga1398
defeasance1399
quittancea1400
acquittancec1405
discharge1423
absolution1447
acquittinga1450
quietance1451
excusationc1475
relief1496
acquittal?1538
releasement1548
ease1576
excuse1577
relievement1583
excusal1584
exoneration1640
dispensation1653
absolvement1689
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Socrates Scholasticus ii. xxxii, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 290 Supposing nowe they had gott their desired excuse, absented them selues.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. iii. 104 Val. I pray go with vs. Virg. Giue me excuse good Madame, I will obey you in euery thing heereafter. View more context for this quotation
2. That which is offered as a reason for being excused; sometimes in bad sense, a (mere) pretext, a subterfuge.in combination.1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xviii. 297 Dinah was mistress of the whole art and mystery of excuse-making.
a. A plea in extenuation of an offence.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > [noun]
assoin1297
excusationc1380
pleaa1382
excusement1393
sunyiea1400
chose15..
excusec1500
allegation?1510
scuse1523
subterfuge1581
apology1598
alibi1857
out1919
c1500 Melusine (1895) 260 Yf it might plese you to here my lord & husband & his escuse.
1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 24 A bad excuse is better, they say, then none at all.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 246 Stay, gentle Helena: heare my excuse . View more context for this quotation
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 156 Place..for Excuse, by which that which seemed a Crime, is proved to be none at all.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 853 To him she hasted, in her face excuse Came Prologue. View more context for this quotation
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Lame Excuse, a sorry Shift or Evasion.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. xxii. 202 Excuses are more than tacit confessions.
1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph I. 305 I am weary of inventing excuses from absenting myself.
1858 J. Doran Hist. Court Fools 70 The excuse was worse than the crime.
b. A plea for release from a duty, obligation, etc. Const. for, †from.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > [noun] > reason or ground for
excusec1515
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xlvi. 156 None excuse can auayle, for it must be thus.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Longolius in Panoplie Epist. 405 As for excuse, which peradventure you wil make by reason of the great showers, I meane to admitt none.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. iii. 161 Vlis. Achilles will not to the field to morrow. Agam. Whats his excuse ? View more context for this quotation
1758 S. Johnson Idler 19 Aug. 153 He..has only time to taste the soup, makes a short excuse to the company and continues through another street.
3. That which serves to excuse, or which tends to extenuate (a fault or offence); a cause, reason, or ground for excuse; esp. in phrase without excuse. Also, a ground for release from duty.
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the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > motive > specious motive or pretext > alleged motive or excuse
occasiona1398
pretencec1425
colour?1435
excuse1494
allegation1614
pretension1624
umbrage1634
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [noun] > release from duty or obligation > a plea for release from obligation
excusationc1386
excuse1494
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [noun] > release from duty or obligation > as being needed for more important duty > a ground for release from duty
excuse1494
1494 in Eng. Gilds 188 Noo man then be absent wt-oute a resonable and sufficiaunt excuse.
1533 J. Frith Bk. answeringe Mores Let. sig. Biv Them am I bounde to beleve, and am dampned without excuse, if I beleve them not.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. ii. 17 My nephewes trespasse..hath the excuse of youth. View more context for this quotation
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 140 Wondring..why Eromilia would not be seene, for which he beleeved not her vow an excuse sufficient.
a1694 J. Tillotson Serm. (1743) X. cciii. 4631 The consideration of our own impotency is no excuse to our sloth and negligence.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. x. 194 They tell you for an Excuse..that they did not think they were so much in Debt.
1795 W. Paley View Evidences Christianity (ed. 3) II. iii. iv. 321 Seeking out some excuse to themselves, for not receiving Jesus.
1814 T. Chalmers Evid. Christian Revel. Advt. 5 The external testimony of Christianity..leaves infidelity without excuse.
1887 Times 29 Aug. 13/6 Charged with knocking without lawful excuse at the door.
4. At Cards (in the game of Tarocco).
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1816 S. W. Singer Researches Hist. Playing Cards 239 If a king is played, and you have not the queen to form a sequence, you play the fool, and this is called an excuse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
excusev.
/ᵻkˈskjuːz/, /ɛkˈskjuːz/, U.S. /ɪkˈskjuz/, /ɛkˈskjuz/ I. To offer, or serve as, an exculpation for.† 2. † b. with complement, or to be (so and so). Obsolete.† 4. † b. To regard as exempt or safe from. rare.
1. transitive. To offer an apology for.† d. [after Latin excusare se esse, etc.] to excuse (a person or thing) to be, etc., to excuse oneself that, etc.: to allege by way of excuse or explanation, that (it is), etc. Obsolete.
a. To attempt to clear (a person) wholly or partially from blame, without denying or justifying his imputed action. Chiefly reflexive.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > excuse (a person or fault) [verb (transitive)]
assoin?c1225
excusea1250
scusea1492
planea1513
salve1628
extenuate1741
palliate1862
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Titus) (1963) 106 Mon schal..nawt escusen [?c1225 Cleo. werien] him & seien. Ich hit dide þurh oðre.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 7 Ne he ne may habbe skele: þet he him moȝe excusi.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xii. 19 Ȝe wenen, that we schulen excuse vs anentis ȝou.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 61 Whanne God asked her whi she had broke his comaundement..she beganne to excuse her.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler Ep. Ded. 6 I should rather excuse myself, then censure others. View more context for this quotation
1675 J. Crowne Countrey Wit v. 84 My Lord has been to seek me in such a rage, that if you do not excuse me, it will be a parting quarrel.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xlix. 188 To excuse yourself, you publickly impeach your accomplice.
b. To seek to extenuate or remove the blame of (an acknowledged fault). †Also rarely with sentence as object.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > excuse (a person or fault) [verb (transitive)] > allege in excuse
excuse1303
interplead1716
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 12357 He [Adam] wulde haue excusede hys fame As who seyþ, ‘Gode was to blame’.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 61 Þe blondere defendeþ and excuseþ..þe zennes of ham þet he wyle ulateri.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. x. 98 For shame yit shuld she let To excuse hir velany by me.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxiiijv The Mayre sent the recorder..to excuse the matter.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. i. 93 She will well excuse Why at this time the dores are made against you. View more context for this quotation
1660 A. Marvell Let. 17 Nov. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 1 I had rather expose mine own defects..then excuse thereby a totall neglect of my duty.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 394 So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie..excus'd his devilish deeds. View more context for this quotation
1751 E. Haywood Hist. Betsy Thoughtless I. xvii. 216 The reception she gave him..excused having made him wait.
1793 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) II. 372 He is driven to..excusing a step, which it is not possible to justify.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. ix. 368 It was a strange proceeding, to be excused only..by the pressure of the times.
c. absol.
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1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream v. i. 350 Neuer excuse: For when the Players are all deade, there neede none to be blamed. View more context for this quotation
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xix. 97 To accuse, requires lesse Eloquence than to excuse.
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a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xviii. 7 No man may excuse him ‘þat he ne is sum tyme stird fra synn to gode’.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxiii. 6 Couþest þou nat excuse þe..þat þow nome no more þan neode þe tauhte?
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xcv. 309 The prouost..excusynge hym selfe that he knew nothynge of ye trewes.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. E2 Excusing himselfe, That it was reason to yeeld to him, that commaunded thirtie Legions. View more context for this quotation
1668 N. Culpeper & A. Cole tr. T. Bartholin Anat. (new ed.) iii. i. 323 The Father excepts the Nerves of the Privity manifestly hollow, which nevertheless his Son excuses to have been meant of the hollow Ligaments of the Privity.
a. To maintain the innocence of (a person); to defend from an accusation (of); to maintain the rightness of, seek to justify (an action). Obsolete.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > justification > justify [verb (transitive)] > vindicate > by argument
excusec1315
defend1340
propugnc1429
justify1477
recommend1602
asserta1643
c1315 Shoreham 40 The thef..escusede Jhesu Cryst, And hym gelty gan ȝelde.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4045 Sche of þat sclaunder excused hire al-gate.
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame i. 427 She desired no-thinge ellis But to excusen Eneas.
1481 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 323 John Mather askused hymsell..wt ij men sworyn apon a boke.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. ii. 15 Their thoughtes accusynge one another or excusynge.
1531 St. German's Secunde Dyaloge Doctour & Student (new ed.) liv. f. cxlviii Howe may the playntyfe there be excused of an vntruthe.
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 420/2 To excuse him of the deathe of the Archbyshop Thomas.
1696 E. Stillingfleet Serm. ii. 66 To have excused these two commands from a palpable contradiction.
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1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie xlvii. 281 Is there not any of vs all that can excuse himselfe to bee vnsubject to such haughtinesse.
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Porrex f. 44 Can I excuse my selfe deuoyde of faut.
3. absolute.c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xiv. 18 Alle bigunnen to gidere to excuse [a1425 L.V. excusen hem].† b. To beg off from (doing something); to decline with apologies. Obsolete.
a. To obtain exemption or release for; to allege reasons for the exemption of (a person) from a duty or obligation. Const. †for, from, in early use with that…not.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > be exempt from (a liability or obligation) [verb (transitive)] > free from obligation
freeeOE
unbind1297
quitclaima1325
acquit1340
excuse1340
loose1340
releasec1350
assoil1366
soilc1384
dischargea1387
quita1387
relieve1416
absoil1440
deliver1440
acquittance1448
quiet1450
acquiet1453
absolve?a1475
defease1475
skill1481
relax1511
redeema1513
exoner1533
exonerate1548
solvec1550
distask1592
disgage1594
upsolve1601
disoblige1603
disengage1611
to get off1623
exclude1632
supersedea1644
to let off1814
to let out1869
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > be exempt from (a liability or obligation) [verb (transitive)] > allege reasons for exemption of (a person)
excuse1340
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 33 He him excuseþ þet he hit ne may do.
1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 4 Al þe oþ er schul comen to þe placebo and dirige..but ȝif he may hym excuse resonabely.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 110 He excused him be þe werre þat he had with Frauns.
1467 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 172 I promessed the Kenge I wolde make in al haste a new schepe..were fore, I pray ȝowe helpe to askewese me fore my komenge.
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 v. v. 45 Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xiii. 356 Captain Swan excused himself, and said..he would have nothing to do with it.
1712 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 361 I excus'd myself upon account of my being oblig'd to return speedily to Oxford.
1788 T. Reid Aristotle's Logic iv. §5. 96 I am very willing to excuse myself from entering upon this great branch of Logic.
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the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > refuse to do something > courteously or with apologies
excuse1548
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cciiii Willing him..with all hast to repayre vnto hym, which oftentymes he had excused by syckenes and debilitie of his body.
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 162 They could not excuse to go vnto them to accomplish their commandement.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 71 To morrow be in readinesse, to goe, Excuse it not: for I am peremptory. View more context for this quotation
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia i. (1629) 14 He did what he could to excuse it, yet their importunities would not cease till he undertooke it.
1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xiii. (heading) The Bishop of Ely excuseth his ministring in the chapel by reason thereof.
1754 J. Hildrop Misc. Wks. II. 123 He pressed me..to dine with him, which I excused.
a. To screen, shelter. [Compare late Latin se a calore excusare Palladius).] To save from punishment or harm, esp. by suffering (in a person's stead); to exempt (a person) from a duty by taking his place. Const. of, from. Obsolete.
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the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > protect or defend [verb (transitive)] > from blame, punishment, etc.
excusea1340
shadow1548
shelter1597
screenc1613
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)]
werea900
savea1387
preservea1393
restraina1398
recurec1450
withsavea1542
excuse1653
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xviii. 7 He suffirs nan to be þat may excuse þaim of the hete of his luf.
1461–83 Liber Niger in Coll Ordinances Royal Househ. 16 Every officer in unitie of love applyed to excuse other by servyce and attendaunce.
1461–83 Liber Niger in Coll Ordinances Royal Househ. 82 Everye yoman to helpe to excuse others for his busyness in his absence.
1543 Sir J. Wallop in Maclean Carew 126 I wold wische to God the next kynesman I have..had excused him.
a1571 W. Haddon in A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. (1576) 426 I would her life might have beene excused by my death.
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme ii. xi An Armature..often excuses the more useful parts of his head from harm.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 82. ⁋3 At School, he was whipped thrice a Week for Faults he took upon him to excuse others.
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the world > action or operation > safety > make safe or secure [verb (transitive)] > regard as safe from
excuse1643
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §28 I excuse not Constantine from a fall off his Horse..upon the wearing those nayles on his bridle. View more context for this quotation
5. absolute.1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 2 Ignorance will not excuse.1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. i. 153 Ignorance..will,..just as little, excuse in one case as in the other.
a. Of things, circumstances, etc.: To serve as an excuse or exculpation for.
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society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > excuse (a person or fault) [verb (transitive)] > serve as an excuse for
excusea1538
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 21 Such ignorance excusyth not erronys in mannys lyfe.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Matt. iii. 4 Other men's superstition..will not excuse mens superfluity.
1714 A. Pope Chaucer's Wife of Bath in R. Steele Poet. Misc. 9 Shape excuses the Defects of Face.
1800 A. Addison Rep. Cases Pennsylvania 13 The wife's presence will not excuse the husband.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. v. 434 There are some acts of injustice which no national interest can excuse.
b. In passive. To have a sufficient excuse; to be freed from blame.
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c1340 R. Rolle Prose Treat. 27 If þou leue nedfull besynes of actyf lyfe..by-cause of desire..to gyffe þe to gastely ocupacyone, wenande þat þou arte thereby excusede..þou dose noghte wysely.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John f. 57v The common people and the vnlearned are to be holden excused, and may be forgeuen.
a1626 F. Bacon Elements Common Lawes (1630) 31 If a warrant..come from the King to sell wood vpon the ground whereof I am tenant..I am excused in wast.
1787 Minor 96 Cupid being blind was partly excused accompanying a counterfeit.
II. To accept an excuse for or from.
6.
a. To accept a plea in exculpation of (a person); to judge leniently on the ground of extenuating circumstances. Const. †of, for.
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c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 281 To be excused I make requeste.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 908 Al thogh þt his Ire hir gilt accused Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused.
c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 7305 Þai were excused þan, for why þai did wrange vnwitandly.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 157 He is totally Excused, for the reason next before alledged.
1862 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. II. iii. 85 We may excuse altogether those who labour under the illusions of actual insanity.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 179 The people may be excused for following tradition only.
b. Phrase, Excuse me: used parenthetically in conversation as apology for an impropriety in speech, etc., or as a polite way of disputing a statement. Also used as a polite form in addressing a stranger, or in interrupting the speech of another. Hence as n. (in full, excuse-me dance), a dance in which one may ‘cut in’ (see to cut in 4 at cut v. Phrasal verbs).
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1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. ii. 77 Pan. Hector Is not a better man then Troylus. Cres. Excuse me. Pand. He is elder. View more context for this quotation
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park II. vii. 149 Excuse me, your ladyship must not see your cards. View more context for this quotation
1831 J. Banim Smuggler I. xii. 279 Excuse me, Sir; but though you have been my guest..this is the first time we have met.
1889 A. Lang Lett. on Lit. (ed. 2) iii. 33 That infernal (excuse me) coward and villain.
1894 Home Chimes XVI. 353 ‘Excuse me, sir.’ Mr. Gill stopped, and addressed a passer-by.
1901 R. S. W. Bell Tales of Greyhouse 255 Excuse me—you are an old boy?
1902 R. Kipling Just So Stories 66 ‘'Scuse me,’ said the Elephant's Child most politely, ‘but have you seen such a thing as a Crocodile in these promiscuous parts?’
1924 W. Deeping Three Rooms iii Excuse me, but would you care to make up a four?
1940 T. H. Harrisson & C. H. Madge War begins at Home ix. 229 Whereas pre-war excuse-me's were almost always quicksteps, now fox-trots and waltzes are frequently included.
1942 A. P. Jephcott Girls growing Up v. 121 ‘Excuse me’ and ‘Buzz off’ dances give the girl an opportunity to go up to any couple and abstract the boy for her partner.
1953 E. Simon Past Masters ii. vi. 113 Jonquil..had emerged as mistress of ceremonies, decreeing now an excuse-me-dance, now a Paul Jones.
1965 J. P. Carstairs Concrete Kimono xv. 125 ‘You actually danced with Reba?’ ‘Is that so crazy?.. It was an Excuse Me, anyway.’
c. To admit apology for, overlook, condone (a fault, offence, impropriety, etc.); to regard indulgently, pardon the faults of (a performance). Also with indirect personal object.
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the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > treat gently [verb (transitive)] > be tolerant of > the faults of
excusec1400
pardon1509
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) Prol. 2 I prey..euery discret persone..to haue my rewde endytyng for excused.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 107 Some tymes we excuse a fault and accuse the reporter.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iv. i. 52 We cite our faults, That they may hold excus'd our lawlesse liues. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iv. vii. 11 I must excuse What cannot be amended. View more context for this quotation
1702 Eng. Theophrastus 125 It is a very dangerous mistake to excuse these vile inclinations upon the tenderness of their age.
1737 A. Pope Epist. of Horace ii. i. 13 (Excuse some Courtly strains) No whiter page than Addison remains.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals i. i Excuse my glove, Thomas.
1825 T. B. Macaulay Milton in Edinb. Rev. Aug. 323 If ever despondency and asperity could be excused in any man, it might have been excused in Milton.
a1853 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1857) 3rd Ser. xvii. 217 The boldest heart may be excused a shudder.
7.
a. To set free (a person) from a task, duty, obligation; dispense from payment, attendance, etc. Const. †for, from; also with double object.
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c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xiv. 19 I preie thee, haue me excusid.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. i. 3 Shal. You shal not away to night. Falst. You must excuse me master Robert Shallow. View more context for this quotation
1697 Countess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 85 She sent word to all the Ladies of Brussels and Antwerp, she would excuse them for their Visits.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 64 Laud, attended..throughout that whole Journey, which..he..no doubt would have been excused from.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 131 He would not be excus'd..from going back with us.
a1816 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal (rev. ed.) ii. ii, in Wks. (1821) II. 51 Your ladyship must excuse me; I'm called away by particular business.
1817 M. Edgeworth Two Guardians iii. iv, in Comic Dramas 248 Beau Come, shake hands, and be friends. St. A. Excuse me, Mr. Courtington.
1839 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 7 That they come to þe dirige..but he haue a resonable cause to be excused.
1894 N.E.D. at Excuse Mod. The jury were excused from attendance for the rest of the week. He was excused the extrance-fee.
b. to excuse oneself: to ask permission or apologize before leaving.
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society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit oneself [verb (reflexive)] > ask permission to leave
to excuse oneself1922
1922 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (Oxford text) xcviii. 217 After an hour he excused himself, that he had just married a Shobek wife.
1964 B. Malamud Idiots First 69 The waiter brought drinks and when Mary Lou had finished hers she excused herself, went to the ladies' room.
c. to be excused: to be allowed to leave a room, esp. a schoolroom; spec. to go to the lavatory. colloquial (chiefly in school language).
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [verb (intransitive)] > be allowed leave to go to the lavatory
to be excused1954
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > justification > justify [verb (intransitive)] > have sufficient excuse or be exculpated
exculpate1656
to be excused1954
1954 Harrap's Stand. Fr. & Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) Suppl. 55/2 Sortir... Est-ce que je peux sortir?, May I be excused?
1963 S. Marshall Exper. in Educ. ii. 60 He could not tie up his own shoe, put on his own coat, or even ‘be excused’ without help.
1968 ‘P. Hobson’ Titty's Dead xiii. 138 ‘Please may I be excused?’ she said.
8. ‘To remit; not to exact’ (Johnson); to grant excuse for the want or absence of; to dispense with.
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society > authority > lack of strictness > lessen in strictness or severity [verb (transitive)] > relax (rules)
to dispense withc1380
excuse1646
waivea1665
to bend (also stretch) the rules1689
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. ix. 35 If any man shall from hence conclude, the Moone is second in magnitude unto the Sun, he must excuse my beliefe. View more context for this quotation
1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 58 I must beg you to excuse my waiting on you for a little while.
1814 Ld. Byron Note in Orig. MS. in Wks. (1846) 90/1 (note) He will excuse the ‘Mr.’——we do not say Mr. Cæsar.
1836 E. Bulwer-Lytton Duchess de la Vallière v. v From our royal court We do excuse your presence.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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