Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French, from pardoner
Pronunciation : 'pär-d
&n
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. pardon.
2. forgiveness; absolution; clemency. forgive; absolve; grant clemency. pardon\par"don\ , n. [f., fr. pardonner to pardon. see:
pardon, v. t.].
3. 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. but infinite in pardon was my judge. 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.
4. an official warrant of remission of penalty. sign me a present pardon for my brother.
5. the state of being forgiven.
6. (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.
7. pardon me. excuse me.
8. The act of pardoning; forgiveness, as of an offender, or of an offense; release from penalty; remission of punishment; absolution.
9. An official warrant of remission of penalty.
10. The state of being forgiven.
11. 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.
12. To absolve from the consequences of a fault or the punishment of crime; to free from penalty; applied to the offender.
13. To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; applied to offenses.
14. To refrain from exacting as a penalty.
15. To give leave to. a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense grant a pardon to; "Ford pardoned Nixon"; "The Thanksgiving turkey was pardoned by the President".
16. pardon. excuse me!, I beg your pardon, pardon. Pardon!, Pardon me!, I beg your pardon!, I'm sorry!, Excuse me!. Pardon me./Excuse me.
17. pardon me. excuse me.
18. 1. formulae You say `Pardon?' or `I beg your pardon?' or, in American English, `Pardon me?' when you want someone to repeat what they have just said because you have not heard or understood it. `Will you let me open it?' --- `Pardon?' --- `Can I open it?'.
19. feelings People say `I beg your pardon?' when they are surprised or offended by something that someone has just said. `Would you get undressed, please?' --- `I beg your pardon?' --- `Will you get undressed?'.
20. formulae You say `I beg your pardon' or `I do beg your pardon' as a way of apologizing for accidentally doing something wrong, such as disturbing someone or making a mistake. I was impolite and I do beg your pardon.
21. formulae Some people say `Pardon me' instead of `Excuse me' when they want to politely get someone's attention or interrupt them. Pardon me, are you finished, madam?.
22. politeness You can say things like `Pardon me for asking' or `Pardon my frankness' as a way of showing you understand that what you are going to say may sound rude. That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.
23. formulae Some people say things like `If you'll pardon the expression' or `Pardon my French' just before or after saying something which they think might offend people. It's enough to make you wet yourself, if you'll pardon the expression.
24. If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is pardoned, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished. Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released. Pardon is also a noun. He was granted a presidential pardon. In law, release from guilt or remission of punishment. The power to pardon is generally exercised by the state's chief executive officer. A pardon may be full or conditional. A conditional pardon imposes a lesser punishment or some other obligation. Some states still bar pardoned offenders from holding public office or obtaining professional licenses.