excuse

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɛk.skyz/^[1]
• IPA (colloquial): /ɛs.kyz/^[1]

Forms

excuse f (plural excuses)^[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French excuser (“to excuse”).^[2][3][1] The verb, first written escuser (about 1120), is borrowed from Latin excūsō (“to excuse, justify”), properly “to put out of the case”, formed from ex- and causa (“cause, lawsuit”).^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Beauvau's Roman de Troilus (14th century) has it for a reason given to clear oneself; the Cent nouvelles nouvelles (1456–1467) has a priest speaking “en sa defense et excuse”.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Before 1549 Marguerite de Navarre uses it for a reason for not doing something, a pretext.^[2][7] In the classical period faire excuse à quelqu'un meant to beg someone's pardon, as in Pascal's je lui fis excuse d'avoir mal pris son sentiment, and prendre excuse to use as a pretext.^[7] The popular faites excuse, “excuse me”, survives, often with a playful tone to introduce an objection;^[7][2] the phrase pardon, excuse is found on the stage from 1800.^[8] The Penal Code of 1810 gave the law sense excuse légale, a fact that removes or reduces a penalty.^[7][9] The plural des excuses expresses regret for an offence: faire, présenter ses excuses.^[9] In the card game tarot, l'excuse is a card that can be played instead of following suit.^[10]

Timeline

• 14th century – A reason given to clear oneself, in Beauvau.^[2][3]
• 1456–1467 – In the Cent nouvelles nouvelles.^[2]
• Before 1549 – “Pretext”, in Marguerite de Navarre.^[2]
• 1694 – Recorded by the Académie.^[2]
• 1800 – Pardon, excuse in a comedy.^[8]
• 1810 – Excuse légale in the Penal Code.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A reason given to defend oneself against an accusation or to lessen a fault; a justification: une bonne excuse, la belle excuse !^[9][10]
2. A pretext for getting out of something: il a toujours une bonne excuse pour ne pas aider.^[10][7]
3. A note justifying a pupil's absence or unfinished work: un mot d'excuse.^[10][7]
4. (in the plural) An apology, expression of regret: faire des excuses, je vous fais mes excuses.^[9]
5. (law) Excuse légale: a fact defined by law that exempts from or lessens a penalty.^[9][7]
6. (popular) Faites excuse: excuse me.^[9][7]
7. (card games) In tarot, a card that may be played without following suit.^[10]

Related words

• excuser
• excusable
• inexcusable
• Latin excūsō
• English excuse

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c d e Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)