noun
-
the act of forgiving or the state of being forgiven
-
willingness to forgive
Other Word Forms
- preforgiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of forgiveness
before 900; Middle English forgifenesse, Old English forgifennys. See forgive, -ness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In front of Reverend Lemuel Clark, her family, and others she knew less well, Lizzie dropped to her knees and begged forgiveness for her doubts.
From Literature
She described forgiveness not as saying it was OK, but as releasing the "bitterness so it no longer dominates how you feel".
From BBC
Gil stressed that his country was "working toward a process of acknowledging past wounds, forgiveness and reconciliation," referring to the amnesty law.
From Barron's
"One must know how to ask for forgiveness and one must also know how to receive forgiveness," Rodriguez said after signing the bill into law late Thursday.
From Barron's
Interim President Rodriguez has described the amnesty bill as being intended for the offering and receiving of forgiveness.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
