forgive

Definition

To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.

Etymology

Alteration (due to give) of Middle English foryiven, forȝiven, from Old English forġiefan (“to forgive, to give”), from Proto-West Germanic *frageban, from Proto-Germanic *fragebaną (“to give away; give up; release; forgive”), equivalent to for- + give (etymologically for- + yive). Cognate with Scots forgeve, forgif, forgie (“to forgive”), West Frisian ferjaan (“to forgive”), Dutch vergeven (“to forgive”), German vergeben (“to forgive”), Icelandic fyrirgefa (“to forgive”), Yiddish פֿאַרגעבן (fargebn, “to forgive”)

Example Sentences

• "Please forgive me if my phone goes off - I'm expecting an urgent call from my boss."
• "Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace."
• "Forgive us our trespasses."