pardon

Definition

  • noun: the excusing of an offense without exacting a penalty
  • verb: to officially say that someone who is guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished
  • verb: to absolve from the consequences of a fault or crime
  • usually used as '(be) pardoned for'
  • synonyms: indulgence

Examples

  • “He's been in Haiti for the past two months.” “'Beg pardon'? He's been in Hawaii?” “No, Haiti.”

  • She received a 'presidential/royal pardon'. [=a pardon from a president or a king or queen]

  • The group wants the debt of the world's poorest countries to be 'pardoned'. [='forgiven']

Movie quotes

  • (..) It is the Fibonacci sequence. The numbers are out of order. But before that, I have an urgent message for Professor Langdon. Right? Pardon me? I'm Sophie Neveu, French police, Cryptology. Your embassy called Division. I'm sorry, monsieur, they said it was a matter of life and death. (..)
    2006 The Da Vinci Code
  • (..) I'd try to identify my killer. Precisely. Precisely. So, professor-- Officer Neveu. Please, pardon the interruption. This is not the time. I received the crime-scene jpegs at headquarters... ...and I've deciphered the code. It's a Fibonacci sequence. (..)
    2006 The Da Vinci Code