1. [n]  the act of excusing a mistake or offense
2. [n]  the formal act of liberating someone
3. [n]  a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
4. [v]  grant a pardon to; "Ford pardoned Nixon"; "The Thanksgiving turkey was pardoned by the President"
5. [v]  accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands"

1. \Pardon\, remission \remission\
   Usage: {Forgiveness}, {Pardon}. Forgiveness is Anglo-Saxon,
          and pardon Norman French, both implying a giving back.
          The word pardon, being early used in our Bible, has,
          in religious matters, the same sense as forgiveness;
          but in the language of common life there is a
          difference between them, such as we often find between
          corresponding Anglo-Saxon and Norman words. Forgive
          points to inward feeling, and suppose alienated
          affection; when we ask forgiveness, we primarily seek
          the removal of anger. Pardon looks more to outward
          things or consequences, and is often applied to
          trifling matters, as when we beg pardon for
          interrupting a man, or for jostling him in a crowd.
          The civil magistrate also grants a pardon, and not
          forgiveness. The two words are, therefore, very
          clearly distinguished from each other in most cases
          which relate to the common concerns of life. Forgiver
   

2. \Par"don\, n. [F., fr. pardonner to pardon. See {Pardon},
   v. t.]
   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. --Shak.
            But infinite in pardon was my judge.  --Milton.
   Usage: Used in expressing courteous denial or contradiction;
          as, I crave your pardon; or in indicating that one has
          not understood another; as, I beg pardon.
   2. An official warrant of remission of penalty.
            Sign me a present pardon for my brother. --Shak.
   3. The state of being forgiven. --South.
   4. (Law) A release, by a sovereign, or officer having
      jurisdiction, from the penalties of an offense, being
      distinguished from amenesty, which is a general
      obliteration and canceling of a particular line of past
      offenses.
   Syn: Forgiveness; remission. See {Forgiveness}.
   

3. \Par"don\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pardoned}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Pardoning}.] [Either fr. pardon, n., or from F.
   pardonner, LL. perdonare; L. per through, thoroughly,
   perfectly + donare to give, to present. See {Par-}, and
   {Donation}.]
   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, pardom me.
                                                  --Shak.
   2. To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without
      punishment; to forgive; -- applied to offenses.
            I pray thee, pardon my sin.           --1 S??. xv.
                                                  25.
            Apollo, pardon My great profaneness 'gainst thine
            oracle ?                              --Shak.
   3. To refrain from exacting as a penalty.
            I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. --Shak.
   4. To give leave (of departure) to. [Obs.]
            Even now about it! I will pardon you. --Shak.
   {Pardon me}, forgive me; excuse me; -- a phrase used also to
      express courteous denial or contradiction.
   Syn: To forgive; absolve; excuse; overlook; remit; acquit.
        See {Excuse}.
   

the forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isa. 43:25), readily (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:5), abundantly (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 5:20). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at the same time, a title to all the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life.