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were excusing

  • past progressive
    of excuse.
    excuse
    verb (used with object)
    to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.).

Example Sentences

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But now, since their zeal was mitigated, they were excusing themselves from labors, and were contenting themselves with tranquillity.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 21 of 55 1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by James Alexander Robertson

He thought they were excusing themselves from partaking of their neighbors’ hospitality because they were too poor to return it, and wanted to set them at their ease.

From Not Like Other Girls by Rosa Nouchette Carey

Then she feels ashamed, lowers her eyelids, and says as if she were excusing herself: "You come so late!" with a yawn that is half a sham.

From Stories and Pictures by Isaac Loeb Peretz

I thought," said Stretton, colouring a little, and almost as though he were excusing himself, "that it would be useless to give the name of a Romanist Prior as a referee to Mr. Heron.

From Under False Pretences A Novel by Adeline Sergeant

It seemed as if Jonah were excusing himself in public for missing an appointment.

From Jonah by Louis Stone