FORGIVE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Forgive

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/fərgˈɪv/ /fɔrgˈɪv/ Listen

verb

Forgive v. t. (past forgave; past part. forgiven; pres. part. forgiving)

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."

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

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." "I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven." 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." "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

Synonyms: See excuse.

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Etymology of 'Forgive'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Forgive" Quotes from Famous Books

... "Forgive, if somewhile I forget, In woe to come the present bliss; As frighted Proserpine let fall Her flowers at the sight ...

— Bulfinch's Mythology • Thomas Bulfinch

... an improvement on. For all I knew it may have sharpened spears And arrowheads itself. Much use for years Had gradually worn it an oblate Spheroid that kicked and struggled in its gait, Appearing to return me hate for hate. (But I forgive it now as easily As any other boyhood enemy Whose pride has failed to get him anywhere.) I wondered who it was the man thought ground— The one who held the wheel back or the one Who gave his life to keep it going ...

— American Poetry, 1922 - A Miscellany • Edna St. Vincent Millay

... she fought her evil tempers manfully. It was not an easy battle to gain. Ellen found that resentment and pride had roots deep enough to keep her pulling up the shoots for a good while. She used to get alone when she could, to read a verse, if no more, of her Bible, and pray; she could forgive William and Margaret more easily then. Solitude and darkness saw many a prayer and tear of hers that week. As she struggled thus to get rid of sin, and to be more like what would please God, she grew humble and happy. Never was such a struggle ...

— The Wide, Wide World • Susan Warner

... men for her husband, and wondered what it might be that kept Ruth from claiming him for her own as was her right. Ruth had answered little, but she had ridden very thoughtful; there was that in the past she found it hard to forgive Wilding. And yet she would now have welcomed an opportunity of thanking him for what he had done, of expressing to him something of the respect he had won in her eyes by his act of selfdenunciation to save her brother. This chance, it seemed, was given her, for there he stood, with head bared before ...

— Mistress Wilding • Rafael Sabatini

... do not know if ever you can forgive me, but I think you would, perhaps, if you knew the real truth about me. Oh, Paul, Paul, Paul, I am afraid—I am afraid that I am going mad! I have no self-control. I say cruel and wicked things without believing them, and I cannot help it There is a devil in my soul who ...

— Despair's Last Journey • David Christie Murray

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