pardon
pardon
Pronunciation
ˈpɑːrdən/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
First Syllable: /pɑːr/
/p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive
/ɑː/: Open back unrounded vowel (as in "car" in British English, or "father" in some American accents)
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant (or retroflex approximant, depending on accent)
Second Syllable: /dən/
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
/ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
I. Noun Forms:
Singular: pardon (e.g., "The president granted a pardon.")
Plural: pardons (e.g., "He issued several pardons during his term.")
II. Verb Forms (to pardon):
Base Form/Infinitive: pardon (e.g., "to pardon someone")
Present Simple (third person singular): pardons (e.g., "She pardons easily.")
Present Participle/-ing form: pardoning (e.g., "He is pardoning the turkeys.")
Past Simple: pardoned (e.g., "The judge pardoned the offender.")
Past Participle: pardoned (e.g., "He has been pardoned.")
III. Related Adjectives and Adverbs:
pardonable: (adjective) capable of being pardoned or forgiven (e.g., "a pardonable mistake")
pardonably: (adverb) in a pardonable manner (e.g., "He acted pardonably.")
unpardonable: (adjective) not capable of being pardoned or forgiven (e.g., "an unpardonable sin")
unpardonably: (adverb) in an unpardonable manner (e.g., "He behaved unpardonably.")
pardonless: (adjective) without pardon (less common)
IV. Interjection:
Pardon! or Pardon me! (Used to express apology, request repetition, or mild surprise/offense).
"Pardon?" (meaning "What did you say?")
"Pardon me, I didn't mean to interrupt."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
I. As a Noun
Definition 1: An official act of clemency or forgiveness granted by a person or authority, often a government official, that legally remits the penalty for an offense, typically a crime. This effectively absolves an individual of the legal consequences of their actions.
Synonyms: amnesty, reprieve, clemency, absolution, forgiveness, exoneration
Antonyms: condemnation, conviction, penalty, punishment, retribution
Definition 2: The act of excusing or overlooking a minor offense, error, or fault; an instance of polite forgiveness for a small transgression.
Synonyms: forgiveness, indulgence, leniency, understanding, tolerance, excuse
Antonyms: condemnation, censure, reproof, accusation, blame
Definition 3: A polite request to repeat something that was not heard or understood clearly, or an apology for a minor social transgression (such as an accidental bump or interruption).
Synonyms: (for request) "What?", "Excuse me?", "Say again?" (for apology) "Apology," "Excuse me"
Antonyms: (for request) "Understood," "Heard clearly" (for apology) "Disregard," "No apology"
II. As a Verb
Definition 1: To officially release a person from the legal consequences of a crime or offense, usually by an act of executive or sovereign power, thereby nullifying the punishment or conviction.
Synonyms: forgive, absolve, excuse, exonerate, acquit, remit, commute
Antonyms: convict, condemn, punish, sentence, incriminate, accuse
Definition 2: To excuse or overlook a fault, mistake, or rudeness; to show leniency or forgiveness for a minor transgression.
Synonyms: forgive, excuse, overlook, condone, tolerate, bear with
Antonyms: blame, censure, reprimand, rebuke, punish, condemn
Definition 3: (Used in polite requests, often reflexively) To ask for indulgence or forgiveness, especially for interrupting, a minor social error, or to request someone to repeat something.
Synonyms: excuse oneself, apologize, beg forgiveness
Antonyms: (Direct antonyms are less applicable here, as it's an action of politeness. Concepts like "insist," "demand," or "disregard social norms" could be considered functional antonyms in context.)
III. As an Adjective (Less common independently, usually as a past participle or in derived forms)
Definition 1: (Pardoned) Having received a pardon; officially forgiven for a crime or offense.
Synonyms: forgiven, absolved, exonerated, acquitted, released
Antonyms: condemned, convicted, punished, incarcerated
Definition 2: (Pardonable) Capable of being forgiven or excused; not severe enough to warrant significant condemnation.
Synonyms: excusable, justifiable, understandable, venial, forgivable
Antonyms: unpardonable, inexcusable, unforgivable, grave, serious, egregious
IV. As an Adverb (Derived, usually from "pardonable")
Definition 1: (Pardonably) In a manner that is capable of being pardoned or excused.
Synonyms: excusably, justifiably, understandably, forgivably
Antonyms: unpardonably, inexcusably, unforgivably
V. As an Interjection
Definition 1: Used as a polite way to ask someone to repeat what they have just said because it was not heard or understood.
Synonyms: "What?", "Excuse me?", "Could you repeat that?", "Come again?"
Antonyms: "Understood," "Got it," "Clear"
Definition 2: Used as a polite apology for a minor intrusion, interruption, or accidental mistake.
Synonyms: "Excuse me!", "Sorry!", "My apologies!"
Antonyms: (Implied rudeness or disregard) "No apology," "Don't care"
Examples of Use
Books:
"With a pardon in hand, the former convict was finally able to secure a job and rebuild his life." (Example referencing the legal concept of a pardon, a common theme in crime fiction or historical novels.)
"She whispered, 'I beg your pardon,' after accidentally brushing against the stranger." (Used as an apology for a minor social transgression, common in novels depicting social interactions.)
Newspapers:
"The governor announced a pardon for a man who had served 20 years for a crime he did not commit, based on new DNA evidence." (Associated Press)
"In an editorial, the newspaper called for a pardon of low-level drug offenders to help reduce prison overcrowding." (New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Is it ever acceptable to use 'I beg your pardon?' instead of 'Excuse me?' in formal settings?" (Etiquette blog post, "Manners Matter,")
"Tech giant issues a formal pardon to employees whose contracts were unfairly terminated during the last restructuring." (The Verge)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "Pardon me, sir, but you're standing on my foot." (Common line in comedies or dramas where a character needs to politely address someone.)
TV Series (Plot Point): "The season finale revolved around the protagonist's desperate attempt to secure a presidential pardon before his execution date." (Plot element in legal dramas like "The Good Wife" or "Suits.")
Podcast (Discussion): "Today, we're discussing the historical precedents of royal pardons and their impact on political stability." (History podcast, "Echoes of the Past,")
Song Lyrics: "I'm looking for a pardon for the wrongs I've done." (Abstract use in a song, implying a desire for forgiveness.)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you say 'cat' or 'hat'? Pardon?" (Common informal use when asking for clarification in a conversation.)
"Oh, pardon my French!" (Used humorously after using mild profanity, a common idiomatic expression.)
"I hope you'll pardon my interruption, but I have a pressing question." (Polite phrasing often used in meetings or formal discussions.)
10 Quotes Using Pardon
"I pardon him, as I hope to be pardoned." (Andrew Jackson)
"To err is human, to forgive, divine." (Often misattributed, but a line from Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism that often leads to discussion of pardon and forgiveness).
"I come to bury Caesar, not to pardon him." (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
"God does not pardon one of his creatures for doing nothing." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
"A coward is a man who is afraid of a woman's pardon." (Marlene Dietrich)
"Will you pardon me for adding a short postscript to my remarks?" (Abraham Lincoln)
"I have come to ask your pardon, for I am the guilty one." (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina)
"My God, my God, pardon this man!" (Voltaire, regarding Jean Calas)
"When you are praying, first pardon anyone you have against you." (Mark 11:25, The Bible)
"I beg your pardon, but I can't find the butter." (Often attributed to Oscar Wilde, though specific source is elusive, it's a quintessential example of polite discourse from the period.)
Etymology
The word "pardon" has a fascinating journey through languages, primarily tracing back to Latin.
It essentially comes from the Latin words "per-" meaning "through" or "completely," and "donare," which means "to give." So, at its core, "pardon" literally means "to give completely" or "to give through."
This idea of "giving completely" evolved to mean "to forgive" or "to remit" (to let go of a debt or a punishment).
The word entered English from Old French as "pardoner" (verb) and "pardon" (noun) around the Middle English period (around 1300 AD).
Initially, its meaning was quite broad and often had a strong religious context. The very first known uses of "pardon" in English, particularly as a noun, referred to "papal indulgences" – a kind of forgiveness or remission of sins or wrongdoing granted by the Pope.
Soon after, in the late 14th century, the meaning expanded to include the more familiar sense of "forgiveness for a civil or criminal offense; release from penalty or obligation," often granted by a king or other official. The milder sense of "excuse for a minor fault" or a polite apology came along a bit later, in the 16th century.
So, from a powerful religious concept of complete forgiveness, "pardon" gradually broadened its meaning to encompass legal clemency and, eventually, everyday polite apologies.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Pardon
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "pardon" or a close synonym for similar effect:
I beg your pardon: A very polite way to apologize, or to ask someone to repeat what they've said.
Pardon me: Similar to "I beg your pardon," used for apologies or requesting repetition.
Pardon my French: An idiom used humorously to apologize for using mild swear words or coarse language.
Pardon my dust: A lighthearted apology for a mess or disruption, often used when entering or leaving quickly.
A royal pardon: Refers to an official act of clemency granted by a monarch.
Presidential pardon: An official act of clemency granted by a president, particularly in the United States.
To receive a pardon: To be officially forgiven for a crime or offense.
To issue a pardon: To grant official forgiveness.
To ask for pardon: To request forgiveness, either formally or informally.
A pardonable offense: A minor mistake or wrongdoing that can be excused.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of pardon from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
