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1 dictionary results for: excuses
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ex·cuse       (ĭk-skyōōz')  Pronunciation Key 
tr.v.   ex·cused, ex·cus·ing, ex·cus·es
    1. To explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood: He arrived late and excused his tardiness in a flimsy manner.
    2. To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late.
    3. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.
    4. To make allowance for; overlook: Readers must excuse the author's youth and inexperience. See Synonyms at forgive.
    1. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.
    2. To make allowance for; overlook: Readers must excuse the author's youth and inexperience. See Synonyms at forgive.
  3. To serve as justification for: Brilliance does not excuse bad manners.
  4. To free, as from an obligation or duty; exempt: In my state, physicians and lawyers are excused from jury duty.
  5. To give permission to leave; release: The child ate quickly and asked to be excused.

n.   (ĭk-skyōōs')
  1. An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.
  2. A reason or grounds for excusing: Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.
  3. The act of excusing.
  4. A note explaining an absence.
  5. Informal An inferior example: a poor excuse for a poet; a sorry excuse for a car.


[Middle English excusen, from Old French excuser, from Latin excūsāre : ex-, ex- + causa, accusation; see cause.]

ex·cus'a·ble adj., ex·cus'a·ble·ness n., ex·cus'a·bly adv., ex·cus'er n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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