\Ex*cuse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Excused}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Excusing}.] [OE. escusen, cusen, OF. escuser, excuser, F.
excuser, fr. L. excusare; ex out + causa cause, causari to
plead. See {Cause}.]
1. To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or
   blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to
   justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve;
   to acquit.
         A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not
         excuse him from guilt in practicing it, if really
         and indeed it be against Gog's law.   --Abp. Sharp.
2. 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.
3. To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to
   overlook; to pardon.
         And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.) No
         whiter page than Addison remains.     --Pope.
4. To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to
   disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to
   remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.
         I pray thee have me excused.          --xiv. 19.
5. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make
   apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or
   indulgence for.
         Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? --2 Cor.
                                               xii. 19.
Syn: To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit.
Usage: - {To Pardon}, {Excuse}, {Forgive}. A superior pardons
       as an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or
       an equal excuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave
       offence, as one against law or morals, may be
       pardoned; a small fault, such as a failure in social
       or conventional obligations, slight omissions or
       neglects may be excused. Forgive relates to offenses
       against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to
       forgive injuries or one who has injured us; to pardon
       grave offenses, crimes, and criminals; to excuse an
       act of forgetfulness, an unintentional offense. Pardon
       is also a word of courtesy employed in the sense of
       excuse.

\Ex*cuse"\, n. [Cf. F. excuse. See {Excuse}, v. t.]
1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning,
   releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution;
   justification; extenuation.
         Pleading so wisely in excuse of it.   --Shak.
2. That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a
   plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular
   deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty;
   excuses for delay of payment.
         Hence with denial vain and coy excuse. --Milton.
3. That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a
   fault. ``It hath the excuse of youth.'' --Shak.
         If eyes were made for seeing. Then beauty is its own
         excuse for being.                     --Emerson.
Syn: See {Apology}.