forgive

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&unr_;rgifva, Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See For-, and Give, v. t. ] 1. To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to resign. [ 1913 Webster ]

To them that list the world's gay shows I leave,
And to great ones such folly do forgive. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And their sins should be forgiven them. Mark iv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

He forgive injures so readily that he might be said to invite them. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke xxiii. 34. [ 1913 Webster ]

I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]