A pretext; an excuse. Obsolete.

An alleged reason; an excuse or pretext. In later use chiefly: a trivial, groundless, or fallacious excuse or reason. Obsolete.

Fair or reasonable excuse; good reason; justification. Also: an instance of this. Obsolete.

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…

A statement giving a reason or excuse for something; the action or an act of making such a statement. Obsolete.

An allegation or assertion the truth of which is not proved or admitted, esp. an unfounded or false one, or one put forward to deceive or serve as…

A pretext or pretence; a colour or false show. Obsolete.