scusare Italian · revision 37932

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1230–1250, Giacomo da Lentini|origins=la causa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /skuˈza.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scusare''' (first-person singular present scùso, first-person singular past historic scusài, past participle scusàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|iscusare]] and [[roa-oit|scuxare]].^(TLIO)^(LEI|22, 85) The learned variant [[escusare]] is archaic.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|excūsō|t=to excuse, justify; to plead as an excuse]], with the loss of the first syllable.^(DELI 1999)^(LEI|22, 85)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The LEI counts it among the inherited words, like [[fur|scusâ]] and [[rm|s-chüsar]], while the learned [[escusare]] came from writing.^(LEI|22, 85) Nocentini instead treats the Italian verb as a Latin loan.^(Nocentini 2010) The verb is [[fro|escuser]] (from the mid-12th century), [[pro|escuzar]], [[es|excusar]] and modern [[fr|excuser]].^(LEI|22, 85)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The Latin verb is formed on [[la|causa|t=cause; lawsuit]] with [[m|la|ex-|t=out of]], meaning “to put out of the case”, and its /au/ became /uː/ in the unstressed syllable.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Devoto 1968) The opposite verb, [[accusare]], is formed with [[m|la|ad-]].^(Devoto 1968)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Giacomo da Lentini (about 1230–1250).^(TLIO) DELI dates “to clear someone of a fault” to Bondie Dietaiuti in the first half of the 13th century, who has Love reply “eo saccio ben che ne sarìa scusato” (I know well that I would be excused for it).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) The reflexive “to apologize, defend oneself” is in the ''Novellino'' at the end of the century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian also used the verb in religion (to absolve), in law (to plead innocence), in trade (to pay off a debt) and for “to refuse” and “to avoid”.^(TLIO) Dante writes “scusar non si posson l'offense” (the offences cannot be excused) in the ''Paradiso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The courtesy use “to pardon”, as in ''scusi'' and ''mi scusi'', is recorded in Galileo (before 1631).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The noun ''scusa'' “excuse” is in Chiaro Davanzati (13th century), and Guittone d'Arezzo (before 1294) uses it for “pretext”.^(DELI 1999) ''Scusabile'' is in Cavalca (before 1342), and the noun ''scusante'' “excuse, mitigating circumstance” is recorded in 1960.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The proverb ''chi si scusa si accusa'' says that one who makes excuses shows one's guilt.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1230–1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''scusare''.^(TLIO)

+ * First half of the 13th century – Bondie Dietaiuti uses it for clearing someone of a fault.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Late 13th century – The reflexive appears in the ''Novellino''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses ''scusa'' for “pretext”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1631 – Galileo uses ''scusare'' in courtesy formulas.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1960 – The noun ''scusante'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|excuse]], [[m|en|forgive]] someone: ''Scusami, non volevo offenderti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|justify]] a fault or behaviour: ''La stanchezza non scusa la sua scortesia.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In polite formulas, to ask pardon or attention: ''Scusi, sa dov'è la stazione?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''scusa'' or ''scusate se è poco!'': ironically, of something remarkable.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To spare, exempt, avoid, or refuse.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scusa]]

+ * [[scusabile]]

+ * [[scusante]]

+ * [[scusato]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accusare]]

+ * [[causa]]

+ * [[la|excuso]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The reflexive ''scusarsi'' means “to apologize”: ''Si è scusato per il ritardo.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}