tr.v., -doned, -don·ing, -dons.
- To release (a person) from punishment; exempt from penalty: a convicted criminal who was pardoned by the governor.
- To let (an offense) pass without punishment.
- To make courteous allowance for; excuse: Pardon me, I'm in a hurry. See synonyms at forgive.
- The act of pardoning.
- Law.
- Exemption of a convicted person from the penalties of an offense or crime by the power of the executor of the laws.
- An official document or warrant declaring such an exemption.
- Allowance or forgiveness for an offense or a discourtesy: begged the host's pardon for leaving early.
- Roman Catholic Church. An indulgence.
[Middle English pardonen, from Old French pardoner, from Vulgar Latin *perdōnāre, to give wholeheartedly : Latin per-, intensive pref.; see per- + Latin dōnāre, to present, forgive (from dōnum, gift).]
pardonable par'don·a·ble adj.pardonableness par'don·a·ble·ness n.
pardonably par'don·a·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
