ex'cusable

World English Dictionary

excuse

—vb
1.	to pardon or forgive: he always excuses her unpunctuality
2.	to seek pardon or exemption for (a person, esp oneself): to excuse oneself for one's mistakes
3.	to make allowances for; judge leniently: to excuse someone's ignorance
4.	to serve as an apology or explanation for; vindicate or justify: her age excuses her behaviour
5.	to exempt from a task, obligation, etc: you are excused making breakfast
6.	to dismiss or allow to leave: he asked them to excuse him
7.	to seek permission for (someone, esp oneself) to leave: he excused himself and left
8.	euphemistic be excused to go to the lavatory
9.	excuse me! an expression used to catch someone's attention or to apologize for an interruption, disagreement, or social indiscretion

—n
10.	an explanation offered in defence of some fault or offensive behaviour or as a reason for not fulfilling an obligation, etc: he gave no excuse for his rudeness
11.	informal an inferior example of something specified; makeshift; substitute: she is a poor excuse for a hostess
12.	the act of excusing

[C13: from Latin excusāre, from ex-¹ + -cūsare, from causa cause, accusation]

ex'cusable

—*adj*

ex'cusableness

—n

ex'cusably

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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