Search the Dictionary

resign. To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And to great ones such folly do forgive. Spenser.

The act of forgiving; the state of being forgiven; as, the forgiveness of sin or of injuries. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses. Dan. ix. 9. In whom we have . . . the forgiveness of sin. Eph. i. 7.

One who forgives. Johnson.

An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. "Government . . . granting absolution to the nation." Froude.

tion, result, etc; a void. I can not write a paper full, I used to do; and yet I will not forgive a blank of half an inch from you. Swift. From this time there ensues a long blank in the history of French legislation. Hallam. I was ill. I can't tell how long -- it was a blank. G. Eliot.

To utter blasphemy. He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness. Mark iii. 29.

Disposition to forgive and spare, as offenders; mildness of temper; gentleness; tenderness; mercy. Great clemency and tender zeal toward their subjects. Stowe. They had applied for the royal clemency. Macaulay.

with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends. Bacon. Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. Shak.

Forgiveness, either express or implied, by a husband of his wife or by a wife of her husband, for a breach of marital duty, as adultery, with an implied condition that the offense shall not be repeated. Bouvier. Wharton.

To pardon; to forgive. A fraud which he had either concocted or condoned. W. Black. It would have been magnanimous in the men then in power to have overlooked all these things, and, condoning the politics, to have rewarded the poetry of Burns. J. C. Shairp.

A duty neglected or violated; a fault; a sin; a trespass. "Forgive us our debts." Matt. vi. 12.

Readily; without reluctance; willingly. Not soon provoked, she easily forgives. Prior.

, consent thou not. Prov. i. 10. Go, and thine erring brother gain, Entice him home to be forgiven. Keble.

er; to swap; as, to exchange horses with a neighbor; to exchange houses or hats. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Shak.

That may be excused, forgiven, justified, or acquitted of blame; pardonable; as, the man is excusable; an excusable action. -- Ex*cus"a*ble*ness, n. -- Ex*cus"a*bly, adv. The excusableness of my dissatisfaction. Boyle.

To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it. I must excuse what can not be amended. Shak.

One who excuses or forgives another. Shelton.

fine; a mulct; a penalty; as, he who murders pays the forfeit of his life. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits. Shak.

imp. of Forgive.

Capable of being forgiven; pardonable; venial. Sherwood.