pardon Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of excusing a mistake or offense
    forgiveness.
  2. noun a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
    amnesty.
  3. noun the formal act of liberating someone
    amnesty; free pardon.
  4. verb accept an excuse for
    excuse.
    • Please excuse my dirty hands
  5. verb grant a pardon to
    • Ford pardoned Nixon
    • The Thanksgiving turkey was pardoned by the President

WordNet

Par"don noun
Etymology
F., fr. pardonner to pardon. See Pardon, v. t.
Definitions
  1. The act of pardoning; forgiveness, as of an offender, or of an offense; release from penalty; remission of punishment; absolution.
    Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. Shak.
    But infinite in pardon was my judge. Milton.
    Used in expressing courteous denial or contradiction; as, I crave your pardon; or in indicating that one has not understood another; as, I beg pardon.
  2. An official warrant of remission of penalty.
    Sign me a present pardon for my brother. Shak.
  3. The state of being forgiven. South.
  4. (Law) A release, by a sovereign, or officer having jurisdiction, from the penalties of an offense, being distinguished from amenesty, which is a general obliteration and canceling of a particular line of past offenses. Syn. -- Forgiveness; remission. See Forgiveness.
Par"don transitive verb
Etymology
Either fr. pardon, n., or from F. pardonner, LL. perdonare; L. per through, thoroughly, perfectly + donare to give, to present. See Par-, and Donation.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pardoned ; present participle & verbal noun Pardoning
Definitions
  1. To absolve from the consequences of a fault or the punishment of crime; to free from penalty; -- applied to the offender.
    In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant. 2 Kings v. 18.
    I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily, pardom me. Shak.
  2. To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; -- applied to offenses.
    I pray thee, pardon my sin. 1 S. xv. 25.
    Apollo, pardon My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle Shak.
  3. To refrain from exacting as a penalty.
    I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Shak.
  4. To give leave (of departure) to. Obs.
    Even now about it! I will pardon you. Shak.
    Syn. -- To forgive; absolve; excuse; overlook; remit; asquit. See Excuse.

Webster 1913