Library / English Dictionary

PARDON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of excusing a mistake or offense

Synonyms:

forgiveness; pardon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("pardon" is a kind of...):

benignity; kindness (a kind act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pardon"):

condonation (a pardon by treating the offender as if the offense had not occurred)

exculpation (the act of freeing from guilt or blame)

Derivation:

pardon (accept an excuse for)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The formal act of liberating someone

Synonyms:

amnesty; free pardon; pardon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("pardon" is a kind of...):

clemency; mercifulness; mercy (leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

pardon (grant a pardon to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A warrant granting release from punishment for an offense

Synonyms:

amnesty; pardon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("pardon" is a kind of...):

warrant (a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

pardon (grant a pardon to)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Grant a pardon to

Example:

The Thanksgiving turkey was pardoned by the President

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "pardon" is one way to...):

forgive (stop blaming or grant forgiveness)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pardon"):

amnesty (grant a pardon to (a group of people))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something

Derivation:

pardon (the formal act of liberating someone)

pardon (a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense)

pardoner (a medieval cleric who raised money for the church by selling papal indulgences)

pardoner (a person who pardons or forgives or excuses a fault or offense)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Accept an excuse for

Example:

Please excuse my dirty hands

Synonyms:

excuse; pardon

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "pardon" is one way to...):

forgive (stop blaming or grant forgiveness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

pardon (the act of excusing a mistake or offense)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“Beg pardon, sir,” said our page-boy, as he opened the door.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I beg your pardon," he stammered. "I was thinking."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

So the bear crept thither in the greatest fear, and begged their pardon.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

And, upon this occasion, I hope the reader will pardon my relating an odd adventure.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I thought—but I beg your pardon, perhaps I have been under a mistake.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Persuasion is not at command; but pardon me, if I cannot even endeavour to persuade him.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“Good heaven! how very, very kind! Have you really—was it by your desire? I beg your pardon, but I am bewildered. Did Admiral Crawford apply? How was it? I am stupefied.”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I beg your pardon, Mr. Dashwood, but if he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a rascal.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“I beg your pardon,” I said.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)