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forgive - 4 dictionary results
for⋅give
[fer-giv] 
verb, -gave, -giv⋅en, -giv⋅ing.–verb (used with object)
| 1. | to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve. |
| 2. | to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.). |
| 3. | to grant pardon to (a person). |
| 4. | to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies. |
| 5. | to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan. |
–verb (used without object)
| 6. | to pardon an offense or an offender. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To forgive
| for·give (fər-gĭv', fôr-) v. for·gave (-gāv'), for·giv·en (-gĭv'ən), for·giv·ing, for·gives v. tr.
To accord forgiveness. [Middle English forgiven, from Old English forgiefan; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.] for·giv'a·ble adj., for·giv'a·bly adv., for·giv'er n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to refrain from imposing punishment on an offender or demanding satisfaction for an offense. The first three can be used as conventional ways of offering apology. More strictly, to forgive is to grant pardon without harboring resentment: "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them" (Oscar Wilde). |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Forgive
For*give"\, v. t. [imp. Forgave; p. p. Forgiven; p. pr. & vb. n. Forgiving] [OE. forgiven, foryiven, foryeven, AS. forgiefan, forgifan; perh. for- + giefan, gifan to give; cf. D. vergeven, G. vergeben, Icel. fyrirgefa, Sw. f?rgifva, Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See For-, and Give, v. t.]1. To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to resign. To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And to great ones such folly do forgive. --Spenser. 2. To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of (an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon; -- said in reference to the act forgiven. And their sins should be forgiven them. --Mark iv. 12. He forgive injures so readily that he might be said to invite them. --Macaulay. 3. To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong committed; to give up claim to requital from or retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; -- said of the person offending. Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. --Luke xxiii. 34. I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven. --Shak. Note: Sometimes both the person and the offense follow as objects of the verb, sometimes one and sometimes the other being the indirect object. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." --Matt. vi. 12. "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." --Matt. ix. 2. Syn: See excuse.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : forgive
Spanish:
perdonarperdonar,
German:
vergeben,
Japanese:
許す
forgive
O.E. forgiefan "give, grant, allow," 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 Gmc. loan-translation of L. perdonare (cf. Du. vergeven, Ger. vergeben; see pardon).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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