Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - excuse

 I. transitive verb  (~d; excusing)  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French escuser, ~r, from Latin excusare, from ex- + causa cause, explanation  Date: 13th century  1.  a. to make apology for  b. to try to remove blame from  2. to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import ; regard as excusable graciously ~d his tardiness  3.  a. to grant exemption or release to was ~d from jury duty  b. to allow to leave ~d the class  4. to serve as ~ for ; justify nothing can ~ such neglect  • excusable adjective  • excusableness noun  • excusably adverb  • ~r noun Synonyms:  ~, condone, pardon, forgive mean to exact neither punishment nor redress. ~ may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these ~ an interruption ~d them for interrupting. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances injustice ~s strong responses. condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics. pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense pardon a criminal. forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings could not forgive their rudeness.  II. noun  Date: 14th century  1. the act of excusing  2.  a. something offered as justification or as grounds for being ~d  b. plural an expression of regret for failure to do something  c. a note of explanation of an absence  3. justification, reason  Synonyms: see apology