excusev. t.[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.)()()n.[Cf. F. excuse. See Excuse, v. t.]1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.()Pleading so wisely in excuse of it. (Shak.)2. That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty; excuses for delay of payment.()Hence with denial vain and coy excuse. (Milton.)3. That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.(Shak.)If eyes were made for seeing.
Then beauty is its own excuse for being. (Emerson.)()