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

  • (..) Well, now. lt won't take much longer. Just a little more paint and he's all fi nished. l think he'll be all right. Don't you, Figaro? Um, huh, uh, beg pardon. See? That makes a big difference. Very good. Very, very goo-- Well, you can't please everybody. Now, l havejust the name foryou. (..)
    1940 Pinocchio
  • (..) Well, l didn't either. Of course, l'm just a cricket singing my way from hearth to hearth... but... let me tell you what made me change my mind. One night, a long time-- Pardon me. Wait 'til l, l fix this thing here. There. One night, a long time ago, my travels took me to a quaint little village. (..)
    1940 Pinocchio