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condone

[ kuhn-dohn ]
/ kənˈdoʊn /
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See synonyms for: condone / condoning / condonable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), con·doned, con·don·ing.
to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like): The government condoned the computer hacking among rival corporations.
to give tacit approval to: By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior.
to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse: His employers are willing to condone the exaggerations they uncovered in his résumé.
to cause the condonation of; justify the pardoning of (an offense).
Law. to forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of (a violation of the marriage vow): His spouse condoned his infidelity from the early years of their marriage.
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Origin of condone

First recorded in 1615–25, but in general currency from its use in the British Divorce Act of 1857 (see def. 5 ); from Latin condōnāre “to absolve, grant pardon,” equivalent to con- “with, together” + dōnāre “to give”; see origin at con-,donate

OTHER WORDS FROM condone

con·don·a·ble, adjectivecon·don·er, nounun·con·doned, adjectiveun·con·don·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use condone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for condone

condone
/ (kənˈdəʊn) /

verb (tr)
to overlook or forgive (an offence)
law (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)

Derived forms of condone

condonable, adjectivecondonation (ˌkɒndəʊˈneɪʃən), nouncondoner, noun

Word Origin for condone

C19: from Latin condōnāre to remit a debt, from com- (intensive) + dōnāre to donate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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