apologizev.
/əˈpɒlədʒʌɪz/, U.S. /əˈpɑləˌdʒaɪz/ 1. intransitive. To speak in, or serve as, justification, explanation, or palliation of a fault, failure, or anything that may cause dissatisfaction; to offer defensive arguments; to make excuses. Also in modern usage: To acknowledge and express regret for a fault without defence, by way of reparation to the feelings of the person affected. Const. for.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > excuse > make excuses [verb (intransitive)]
cause1590
apologize1609
to whip the devil round the stump (also post)1776
1609 S. Daniel Civile Wares (rev. ed.) iv. ii. 88 Inforc't t’ apologise With forraine States, for two enormious things.
1656 H. More Antidote Atheism Pref. 12 I can justly apologize for my self that Necessity has no law.
a1731 D. Defoe New Voy. round World (1787) I. 224 They had very little wine,..which the Governor apologized for.
a1753 P. Drake Memoirs (1755) I. Ded. sig. A3 Circumstances which might well have apologized for such a Conduct.
1860 Cornhill Mag. Aug. 243 We are wont, in a sneaking, contemptible sort of way, to apologize for our holidays.
1878 J. R. Seeley Life & Times Stein III. 497 Stein, as usual, sins by over-emphatic expressions for which he later freely apologises.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > repentance or contrition > repent (sin, wrongdoing, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > express regret for (a fault)
apology1633
apologize1730
1730 J. Swift Apol. Lady Carteret in Misc. (1734) 6 The Doctor takes his hint from hence, To apologise [1730: vindicate] his late Offence.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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