Definitions for: Pardon


[n] the act of excusing a mistake or offense
[n] the formal act of liberating someone
[n] a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
[v] grant a pardon to; "Ford pardoned Nixon"; "The Thanksgiving turkey was pardoned by the President"
[v] accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands"



Webster (1913) Definition: Pardon, remission remission

Usage: Forgiveness, Pardon. Forgiveness is Anglo-Saxon,
and pardon Norman French, both implying a giving back.
The word pardon, being early used in our Bible, has,
in religious matters, the same sense as forgiveness;
but in the language of common life there is a
difference between them, such as we often find between
corresponding Anglo-Saxon and Norman words. Forgive
points to inward feeling, and suppose alienated
affection; when we ask forgiveness, we primarily seek
the removal of anger. Pardon looks more to outward
things or consequences, and is often applied to
trifling matters, as when we beg pardon for
interrupting a man, or for jostling him in a crowd.
The civil magistrate also grants a pardon, and not
forgiveness. The two words are, therefore, very
clearly distinguished from each other in most cases
which relate to the common concerns of life. Forgiver


Par"don, n. [F., fr. pardonner to pardon. See Pardon,
v. t.]
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.

Usage: 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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pardoned; p. pr. & vb.
n. Pardoning.] [Either fr. pardon, n., or from F.
pardonner, LL. perdonare; L. per through, thoroughly,
perfectly + donare to give, to present. See Par-, and
Donation.]
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.

Pardon me, forgive me; excuse me; -- a phrase used also to
express courteous denial or contradiction.

Syn: To forgive; absolve; excuse; overlook; remit; acquit.
See Excuse.

Synonyms: amnesty, amnesty, excuse, forgiveness, free pardon

See Also: amnesty, assoil, benignity, clemency, condonation, exculpation, forgive, kindness, mercifulness, mercy, warrant

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