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,causarito plead. SeeCause.]1.To free fromaccusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt;to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; toexculpate; to absolve; to acquit.

A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will notexcuse him from guilt in practicing it, if really and indeedit be against Gog's law.

2.To pardon, as a fault; to forgiveentirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; as,weexcuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstancesappear to justify it.

I mustexcuse what can not beamended.

3.To regard with indulgence; to viewleniently or to overlook; to pardon.

And in our own (excuse some courtlystains.)
No whiter page than Addison remains.

4.To free from an impending obligation orduty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor;also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, toexcuse aforfeiture.

I pray thee have meexcused.

5.To relieve of an imputation by apology ordefense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon orindulgence for.

Think ye that weexcuse ourselves toyou?

Syn. -- To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit. -ToPardon,Excuse,Forgive. A superiorpardonsas an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or an equalexcuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave offence, as oneagainst law or morals, may bepardoned; a small fault, such asa failure in social or conventional obligations, slight omissions orneglects may beexcused.Forgive relates to offensesagainst one's self, and punishment foregone; as, toforgiveinjuries or one who has injured us; topardon grave offenses,crimes, and criminals; toexcuse an act of forgetfulness, anunintentional offense.Pardon is also a word of courtesyemployed in the sense ofexcuse.

Ex*cuse" (?),n. [Cf. F.excuse.SeeExcuse,v. t.]1.The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning,releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution;justification; extenuation.

Pleading so wisely inexcuse ofit.

2.That which is offered as a reason forbeing excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregulardeportment; apology; as, anexcuse for neglect of duty;excuses for delay of payment.

Hence with denial vain and coyexcuse.

3.That which excuses; that which extenuatesor justifies a fault. "It hath theexcuse of youth."Shak.

If eyes were made for seeing.
Then beauty is its ownexcuse for being.

Syn. -- SeeApology.