Part 4024

<hw>Ex`cu*sa"tor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L.]</ety> <def>One who makes, or is authorized to make, an excuse; an apologist.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Hume.</i>

<h1>Excusatory</h1> <Xpage=521>

<hw>Ex*cus"a*to*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Making or containing excuse or apology; apologetical; <as>as, an <ex>excusatory</ex> plea</as>.</def>

<h1>Excuse</h1> <Xpage=521>

<hw>Ex*cuse"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Excused</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Excusing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>escusen</ets>, <ets>cusen</ets>, OF. <ets>escuser</ets>, <ets>excuser</ets>, F. <ets>excuser</ets>, fr. L. <ets>excusare</ets>; <ets>ex</ets> out + <ets>causa</ets> cause, <ets>causari</ets> to plead. See <er>Cause</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.</def>

<blockquote>A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not <b>excuse</b> him from guilt in practicing it, if really and indeed it be against Gog's law. <i>Abp. Sharp.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; <as>as, we <ex>excuse</ex> irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it</as>.</def>

<blockquote>I must <b>excuse</b> what can not be amended. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.</def>

<blockquote>And in our own (<b>excuse</b> some courtly stains.) No whiter page than Addison remains. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; <as>as, to <ex>excuse</ex> a forfeiture</as>.</def>

<blockquote>I pray thee have me <b>excused</b>. <i>xiv. 19.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.</def>

<blockquote>Think ye that we <b>excuse</b> ourselves to you? <i>2 Cor. xii. 19.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit.</syn> <usage>- <er>To Pardon</er>, <er>Excuse</er>, <er>Forgive</er>. A superior <i>pardons</i> as an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or an equal <i>excuses</i>. A crime, great fault, or a grave offence, as one against law or morals, may be <i>pardoned</i>; a small fault, such as a failure in social or conventional obligations, slight omissions or neglects may be <i>excused</i>. <i>Forgive</i> relates to offenses against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to <i>forgive</i> injuries or one who has injured us; to <i>pardon</i> grave offenses, crimes, and criminals; to <i>excuse</i> an act of forgetfulness, an unintentional offense. <i>Pardon</i> is also a word of courtesy employed in the sense of <i>excuse</i>.</usage>

<hr> <page="523"> Page 523<p>

<h1>Excuse</h1> <Xpage=523>

<hw>Ex*cuse"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>excuse</ets>. See <er>Excuse</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.</def>

<blockquote>Pleading so wisely in <b>excuse</b> of it. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology; <as>as, an <ex>excuse</ex> for neglect of duty; <ex>excuses</ex> for delay of payment.</as></def>

<blockquote>Hence with denial vain and coy <b>excuse</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.</def> "It hath the <i>excuse</i> of youth."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>If eyes were made for seeing. Then beauty is its own <b>excuse</b> for being. <i>Emerson.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- See <er>Apology</er>.</syn>

<h1>Excuseless</h1> <Xpage=523>