forgave

[fer-geyv]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forgave ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

simple past tense of forgive.

forgive

[fer-giv]

verb (used with object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.

to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).

to grant pardon to (a person).

to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.

to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

verb (used without object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

to pardon an offense or an offender.

Origin of forgive

before 900; for- + give; replacing Middle English foryiven, Old English forgiefan

Related formsfor·giv·a·ble, adjectivefor·giv·er, nounhalf-for·giv·en, adjectivepre·for·give, verb (used with object) pre·for·gave, pre·for·giv·en, pre·for·giv·ing.un·for·giv·a·ble, adjectiveun·for·giv·a·ble·ness, nounun·for·giv·a·bly, adverbun·for·giv·en, adjective

Can be confusedcommute forgive pardon (see synonym study at pardon)

Synonyms for forgive

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forgive ON THESAURUS.COM

1. See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for forgave

excuse, condone, forget, absolve, efface, purge, acquit, amnesty, palliate, spring, clear, overlook, remit, pocket, relent, commute, respite, exempt, release, exculpate

Examples from the Web for forgave

Contemporary Examples of forgave

Philomena, I asked her if she forgave the nuns for what they did to her, and she said, “Yes.”
Steve Coogan Makes His Bid For Some Serious, Dramatic Roles
Andrew Romano
November 29, 2013
Perhaps because, as Jalics writes, he forgave his enemy as Christians are supposed to do.
Argentina’s Dirty War Casts a Pall Over Bergoglio
Christopher Dickey
March 15, 2013
I forgave him, although the cruelty that he and the boys at my school displayed stayed with me for many, many years.
Your Puffy-Face Moments, Inspired by Ashley Judd
April 13, 2012
We forgave him for not shaking the hands of his opponents when Orlando erased the Cavs in the 2009 playoffs.
LeBron James Is the Emperor Without Clothes
Charles Michener
July 11, 2010
In the end, she too forgave him, taking care of a dying Leary.
Acid Trips and Frozen Heads at San Francisco’s Trippiest Party
Kate Coleman
February 18, 2009

Historical Examples of forgave

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
That I forgave you when my injuries were fresh, and when my bosom was newly wrung.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
But whether his mother's darkened mind ever forgave him it would be difficult to say.
The Coryston Family
Mrs. Humphry Ward
Before he died he asked his wife's forgiveness and forgave her for the cooper.
Master and Man
Leo Tolstoy
Aunty May forgave me, and Mr. and Mrs. Turner forgave me too.
W. A. G.'s Tale
Margaret Turnbull

British Dictionary definitions for forgave

forgave

verb

the past tense of forgive

forgive

verb -gives, -giving, -gave or -given

to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something)

to grant pardon for (a mistake, wrongdoing, etc)

(tr) to free or pardon (someone) from penalty

(tr) to free from the obligation of (a debt, payment, etc)

Derived Formsforgivable, adjectiveforgivably, adverbforgiver, noun

Word Origin for forgive

Old English forgiefan; see for-, give

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

Word Origin and History for forgave

past tense of forgive (q.v.).

forgive

Old English forgiefan "give, grant, allow; forgive," also "to give up" and "to give in marriage;" from for- "completely" + giefan "give" (see give).

The modern sense of "to give up desire or power to punish" is from use of the compound as a Germanic loan-translation of Latin perdonare (cf. Old Saxon fargeban, Dutch vergeven, German vergeben, Gothic fragiban; see pardon). Related: Forgave; forgiven; forgiving.