pardon

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːd(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offence: he obtained pardon for his sins
  • [count noun] a cancellation of the legal consequences of an offence or conviction: he offered a full pardon to five convicted men
  • [count noun] Christian Church an indulgence, as widely sold in medieval Europe.

verb

[with object]
  • forgive or excuse (a person, error, or offence): I know Catherine will pardon me
  • release (an offender) from the legal consequences of an offence or conviction, and often implicitly from blame: he was pardoned for his treason
  • (be pardoned) used to indicate that someone is justified in doing or thinking a particular thing given the circumstances: one can be pardoned the suspicion that some of his errors were deliberate

exclamation

  • a request to a speaker to repeat something because one did not hear or understand it: ‘Pardon?’ I said, cupping a hand to my ear

Phrases

I beg your pardon (or North American pardon me)

used to express polite apology: I beg your pardon for intruding
used to indicate that one has not heard or understood something: I beg your pardon—I’m afraid I didn’t catch that
used to express one’s anger or indignation at what someone has just said: ‘I beg your pardon!,’ Beecham snapped

if you'll pardon the expression

used to apologize for having used or being about to use coarse or offensive expressions: four of those years I spend in a bloody prison camp—if you’ll pardon the expression

pardon me for ——

used to express in a sarcastic way one’s indignation at being criticized for doing something: ‘Well, pardon me for breathing!’

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French pardun (noun), pardoner (verb), from medieval Latin perdonare 'concede, remit', from per- 'completely' + donare 'give'