forgave
[fer-geyv]
- simple past tense of forgive.
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forgive
[fer-giv]
- 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.
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- to pardon an offense or an offender.
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Origin of forgive
Synonyms
See more synonyms for forgive on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for forgave
Contemporary Examples
Philomena, I asked her if she forgave the nuns for what they did to her, and she said, “Yes.”
Perhaps because, as Jalics writes, he forgave his enemy as Christians are supposed to do.
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 JuddApril 13, 2012
We forgave him for not shaking the hands of his opponents when Orlando erased the Cavs in the 2009 playoffs.
In the end, she too forgave him, taking care of a dying Leary.
Historical Examples
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IIFrancis Augustus Cox
That I forgave you when my injuries were fresh, and when my bosom was newly wrung.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
But whether his mother's darkened mind ever forgave him it would be difficult to say.
The Coryston FamilyMrs. Humphry Ward
Before he died he asked his wife's forgiveness and forgave her for the cooper.
Master and ManLeo Tolstoy
Aunty May forgave me, and Mr. and Mrs. Turner forgave me too.
W. A. G.'s TaleMargaret Turnbull
forgave
- the past tense of forgive
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forgive
- 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)
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Word Origin
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.).
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forgive
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper