PARDON

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. Shak. But infinite in pardon was my judge. Milton. 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.

An official warrant of remission of penalty. Sign me a present pardon for my brother. Shak.

The state of being forgiven. South.

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.

To absolve from the consequences of a fault or the punishment of crime; to free from penalty; -- applied to the offender. In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant. 2 Kings v. 18. I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily, pardom me. Shak.

To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; -- applied to offenses. I pray thee, pardon my sin. 1 S Apollo, pardon My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle Shak.

To refrain from exacting as a penalty. I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Shak.

To give leave (of departure) to. [Obs.] Even now about it! I will pardon you. Shak. Pardon me, forgive me; excuse me; -- a phrase used also to express courteous denial or contradiction.