Definitions for: Forgive


[v] stop blaming or grant forgiveness
[v] absolve from payment; "I forgive you your debt"



Webster (1913) Definition: For*give", v. t. [imp. Forgave; p. p. Forgiven; p.
pr. & vb. n. Forgiving] [OE. forgiven, foryiven, foryeven,
AS. forgiefan, forgifan; perh. for- + giefan, gifan to give;
cf. D. vergeven, G. vergeben, Icel. fyrirgefa, Sw. f?rgifva,
Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See For-, and Give, v. t.]
1. To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to
resign.

To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And
to great ones such folly do forgive. --Spenser.

2. To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of
(an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon;
-- said in reference to the act forgiven.

And their sins should be forgiven them. --Mark iv.
12.

He forgive injures so readily that he might be said
to invite them. --Macaulay.

3. To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong
committed; to give up claim to requital from or
retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; --
said of the person offending.

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do. --Luke xxiii.
34.

I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven.
--Shak.

Note: Sometimes both the person and the offense follow as
objects of the verb, sometimes one and sometimes the
other being the indirect object. ``Forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors.'' --Matt. vi. 12. ``Be of
good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.'' --Matt. ix. 2.

Syn: See excuse.

See Also: absolve, concede, condone, excuse, exempt, free, free, grant, justify, pardon, relieve, yield

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