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FORGIVING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Providing absolution
Synonyms:
absolvitory; exonerative; forgiving
Classified under:
Similar:
exculpatory (clearing of guilt or blame)
Derivation:
forgivingness (tendency to be kind and forgiving)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Inclined or able to forgive and show mercy
Example:
a forgiving embrace to the naughty child
Classified under:
Similar:
kind; tolerant (tolerant and forgiving under provocation)
unvindictive (not vindictive)
Antonym:
unforgiving (unwilling or unable to forgive or show mercy)
Derivation:
forgivingness (tendency to be kind and forgiving)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb forgive
Context examples:
I was so softened and forgiving, going through the town, that I had half a mind to nod to my old enemy the butcher, and throw him five shillings to drink.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
If he should be so compassionate as to say that you might write something for me to read—I think he would, oh, I think he would, if you would only ask him, for he always was so brave and so forgiving—tell him then (but not else), that when I hear the wind blowing at night, I feel as if it was passing angrily from seeing him and uncle, and was going up to God against me.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
