Origin: 1175–1225; (v.)
Middle English escusen <
Old French escuser <
Latin excūsāre to put outside, exonerate, equivalent to
ex- ex-1 +
-cūsāre, derivative of
causa cause; (noun)
Middle English escuse <
Old French, derivative of
escuser; modern spelling with
ex- on the model of
ex-1 Related formsex·cus·a·ble, adjective
ex·cus·a·ble·ness, noun
ex·cus·a·bly, adverb
ex·cus·al, noun
ex·cuse·less, adjective
EXPANDex·cus·er, noun
ex·cus·ing·ly, adverb
ex·cus·ive, adjective
ex·cus·ive·ly, adverb
non·ex·cus·a·ble, adjective
non·ex·cus·a·ble·ness, noun
non·ex·cus·a·b·ly, adverb
pre·ex·cuse, verb (used with object), pre·ex·cused, pre·ex·cus·ing.
self-ex·cuse, noun
self-ex·cused, adjective
self-ex·cus·ing, adjective
un·ex·cus·a·ble, adjective
un·ex·cus·a·b·ly, adverb
un·ex·cused, adjective
un·ex·cus·ing, adjective
COLLAPSECan be confused: alibi,
excuse (see usage note at
alibi; see synonym note at
the current entry).
Synonyms
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. 3. extenuate, palliate. 4. free. 8. justification. 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. 11. pretense, evasion, makeshift.