excuse French · revision 17581

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=14th century|origins=la causa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɛk.skyz/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (colloquial): /ɛs.kyz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''excuse''' ''f'' (plural excuses)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a deverbal noun [[der|fr|excuser|t=to excuse]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) The verb, first written [[m|fro|escuser]] (about 1120), is [[bor|la|excūsō|t=to excuse, justify]], properly “to put out of the case”, formed from [[m|la|ex-]] and [[m|la|causa|t=cause, lawsuit]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==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”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before 1549 Marguerite de Navarre uses it for a reason for not doing something, a pretext.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) 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.^(GLLF 1989) The popular ''faites excuse'', “excuse me”, survives, often with a playful tone to introduce an objection;^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi) the phrase ''pardon, excuse'' is found on the stage from 1800.^(BHVF) The Penal Code of 1810 gave the law sense ''excuse légale'', a fact that removes or reduces a penalty.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) The plural ''des excuses'' expresses regret for an offence: ''faire, présenter ses excuses''.^(Petit Robert 2007) In the card game tarot, ''l'excuse'' is a card that can be played instead of following suit.^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – A reason given to clear oneself, in Beauvau.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1456–1467 – In the ''Cent nouvelles nouvelles''.^(TLFi)

+ * Before 1549 – “Pretext”, in Marguerite de Navarre.^(TLFi)

+ * 1694 – Recorded by the Académie.^(TLFi)

+ * 1800 – ''Pardon, excuse'' in a comedy.^(BHVF)

+ * 1810 – ''Excuse légale'' in the Penal Code.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A reason given to defend oneself against an accusation or to lessen a fault; a [[m|en|justification]]: ''une bonne excuse'', ''la belle excuse !''^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # A [[m|en|pretext]] for getting out of something: ''il a toujours une bonne excuse pour ne pas aider''.^(Larousse)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A note justifying a pupil's absence or unfinished work: ''un mot d'excuse''.^(Larousse)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' An [[m|en|apology]], expression of regret: ''faire des excuses'', ''je vous fais mes excuses''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(law)'' ''Excuse légale'': a fact defined by law that exempts from or lessens a penalty.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(popular)'' ''Faites excuse'': excuse me.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(card games)'' In [[m|en|tarot]], a card that may be played without following suit.^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[excuser]]

+ * [[excusable]]

+ * [[inexcusable]]

+ * [[la|excūsō]]

+ * [[en|excuse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}