2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Excuse  \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  causari  to 
  plead.  See  {Cause}.] 
  1.  To  free  from  accusation,  or  the  imputation  of  fault  or 
  blame;  to  clear  from  guilt;  to  release  from  a  charge;  to 
  justify  by  extenuating  a  fault;  to  exculpate;  to  absolve; 
  to  acquit. 
 
  A  man's  persuasion  that  a  thing  is  duty,  will  not 
  excuse  him  from  guilt  in  practicing  it  if  really 
  and  indeed  it  be  against  Gog's  law.  --Abp.  Sharp. 
 
  2.  To  pardon,  as  a  fault;  to  forgive  entirely,  or  to  admit  to 
  be  little  censurable,  and  to  overlook;  as  we  excuse 
  irregular  conduct,  when  extraordinary  circumstances  appear 
  to  justify  it 
 
  I  must  excuse  what  can  not  be  amended.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  To  regard  with  indulgence;  to  view  leniently  or  to 
  overlook;  to  pardon. 
 
  And  in  our  own  (excuse  some  courtly  stains.)  No 
  whiter  page  than  Addison  remains.  --Pope. 
 
  4.  To  free  from  an  impending  obligation  or  duty;  hence  to 
  disengage;  to  dispense  with  to  release  by  favor;  also  to 
  remit  by  favor;  not  to  exact;  as  to  excuse  a  forfeiture. 
 
  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  --xiv.  19. 
 
  5.  To  relieve  of  an  imputation  by  apology  or  defense;  to  make 
  apology  for  as  not  seriously  evil;  to  ask  pardon  or 
  indulgence  for 
 
  Think  ye  that  we  excuse  ourselves  to  you?  --2  Cor. 
  xii.  19. 
 
  Syn:  To  vindicate;  exculpate;  absolve;  acquit. 
 
  Usage:  -  {To  Pardon},  {Excuse},  {Forgive}.  A  superior  pardons 
  as  an  act  of  mercy  or  generosity;  either  a  superior  or 
  an  equal  excuses.  A  crime,  great  fault,  or  a  grave 
  offence,  as  one  against  law  or  morals,  may  be 
  pardoned;  a  small  fault,  such  as  a  failure  in  social 
  or  conventional  obligations,  slight  omissions  or 
  neglects  may  be  excused.  Forgive  relates  to  offenses 
  against  one's  self  and  punishment  foregone;  as  to 
  forgive  injuries  or  one  who  has  injured  us  to  pardon 
  grave  offenses,  crimes,  and  criminals;  to  excuse  an 
  act  of  forgetfulness,  an  unintentional  offense.  Pardon 
  is  also  a  word  of  courtesy  employed  in  the  sense  of 
  excuse. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  excused 
  adj  :  granted  exemption;  "one  of  the  excused  jurors  planned  to 
  write  a  book" 

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