Pardon /(pär"d'n)/

Par·don

Pardon

n.
  1. 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.
  2. An official warrant of remission of penalty.
    Sign me a present pardon for my brother.
  3. The state of being forgiven.
  4. A release, by a sovereign, or officer having jurisdiction, from the penalties of an offense, being distinguished from amnesty, which is a general obliteration and canceling of a particular line of past offenses. (Law)
Syn. -- Forgiveness; remission. See Forgiveness.

Used in expressing courteous denial or contradiction; as, I beg your pardon; or in indicating that one has not understood another; as, I beg pardon; or pardon me?.

Pardon

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Pardoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pardoning

  1. 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, pardon me.
  2. To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; -- applied to offenses.
    I pray thee, pardon my sin.
    — 1 Sam. xv. 25.
    Apollo, pardon My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle!
  3. To refrain from exacting as a penalty.
    I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.
  4. To give leave (of departure) to. [Obs.]
    Even now about it! I will pardon you.

Phrases & Compounds
Pardon me
forgive me; excuse me; -- a phrase used also to express courteous denial or contradiction, or to request forgiveness for a mild transgression, such as bumping a person while passing.