excuse
[ verb ik-skyooz; noun ik-skyoos ]
/ verb ɪkˈskyuz; noun ɪkˈskyus /
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verb (used with object), ex·cused, ex·cus·ing.
noun
OTHER WORDS FOR excuse
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Idioms about excuse
Excuse me, (used as a polite expression, as when addressing a stranger, when interrupting or disagreeing with someone, or to request repetition of what has just been said.)
Origin of excuse
First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English escusen, excusen, from Old French escuser, excuser, from Latin excūsāre “to put outside, exonerate,” equivalent to ex- ex-1 + -cūsāre, derivative of causa cause; (noun) Middle English escuse, excuse, from Old French excuse, derivative of escuser, excuser
synonym study for excuse
1. Excuse, forgive, pardon imply being lenient or giving up the wish to punish. Excuse means to overlook some (usually) slight offense: to excuse bad manners. Forgive is applied to excusing more serious offenses: to forgive and forget. Pardon usually applies to a specific act of lenience or mercy by an official or superior: The governor was asked to pardon the condemned criminal. 8. Excuse, apology both imply an explanation of some failure or failing. Excuse implies a desire to avoid punishment or rebuke. Apology usually implies acknowledgment that one has been in the wrong.
OTHER WORDS FROM excuse
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH excuse
alibi, excuseDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use excuse in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for excuse
excuse
verb (ɪkˈskjuːz) (tr)
noun (ɪkˈskjuːs)
Derived forms of excuse
excusable, adjectiveexcusableness, nounexcusably, adverbWord Origin for excuse
C13: from Latin excusāre, from ex- 1 + -cūsare, from causa cause, accusation
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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