Inflected forms: ex·cused, ex·cus·ing, ex·cus·es 1a. 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.b. To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late.2a. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.b. 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.
NOUN:
(k-skys)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.
IDIOM:
Excuse me1. Used to acknowledge and ask forgiveness for an action that could cause offense. 2. Used to request that a statement be repeated.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English excusen, from Old French excuser, from Latin excsre : ex-, ex- + causa, accusation; see cause.
k-sky
z
s
re : ex-, ex- + causa, accusation; see cause.
