excuse (
http://definr.com/excuse)
n 1: a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep
a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay";
"every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job";
"his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"
[syn:
alibi,
self-justification]
2: a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor
excuse for an automobile" [syn:
apology]
v 1: accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands" [syn:
pardon]
2: grant exemption or release to; "Please excuse me from this
class [syn:
relieve,
let off,
exempt]
3: serve as an excuse for [syn:
explain]
4: defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by
reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy
behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" [syn:
apologize,
apologise,
justify,
rationalize,
rationalise]
5: ask for permission to be released from an engagement [syn: {beg
off}]
6: excuse or make allowances for; be lenient with; "excuse
someone's behavior" [syn:
condone]