forgive

for-give · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

  2. 2.

    To cancel a debt or obligation.

  3. 3.

    (used in polite expressions) To excuse; used when asking for understanding.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    forgive and forget — to pardon an offense and not hold a grudge
  • •
    to err is human, to forgive divine — people make mistakes, but forgiving them is a noble act
  • •
    forgive me — an expression used to apologize
  • •
    Father, forgive them — a famous biblical phrase

Related words

Antonyms: blame, condemn, resent
See also: apologize, excuse, forgiveness, pardon
Synonyms: absolve, excuse, exonerate, pardon

Etymology

From Old English forgiefan meaning "to give, grant, allow; to give up; to forgive," from for- (expressing removal) + giefan "to give." Related to German vergeben. The prefix for- in this case implies "completely" or "away," so the original sense was "to give completely" or "give away" the offense.