forgive

[ fer-giv ]

/ fərˈgɪv /

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.

Nearby words

Origin of forgive

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

SYNONYMS FOR forgive

1. See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit.

Related forms

for·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)

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

Examples from the Web for unforgiven

Moviegoers who are looking for another Million Dollar Baby or Unforgiven are going to be disappointed, frankly.
Gran Torino is 100-Proof Clint|Michael Korda|January 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
That heavy burden of unforgiven transgressions, which lies so heavy on many consciences, no longer presses them down.
Practical Religion|John Charles Ryle
Only a girl's folly, which unforgiven must seem something worse.
A Set of Rogues|Frank Barrett
And if unforgiven, could the cry of a rabble at such a scene bind a nation?
Lord George Bentinck|Benjamin Disraeli

It was inhuman to go off to church, and leave a sinner in suspense, unpunished, unforgiven.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
But to Pretty Pierre, forgiven or unforgiven, he would keep his word.
Pierre And His People, [Tales of the Far North], Complete|Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for unforgiven

forgive

/ (fəˈɡɪv) /

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 unforgiven

unforgiven

adj.

early 15c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of forgive.

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.