excuse or forgiveness for a fault or, offence, or discourtesya release from legal penaltiesin the Christian Church, formerly, an indulgence
to absolve (somebody) from the consequences of a fault or crimeto allow (an offence) to pass without punishmentpardon my French/pardon/excuse my French see French2pardon me used in courteous denial or apology Pardon me, I didn't quite catch what you said pardonable adjpardonably adv[Middle English pardonen via French from late Latin perdonare to grant freely, from per- + Latin donare to give]