pardon
/ˈpɑːrdən/Forgiveness for an offense, offense, or crime
She asked for pardon after breaking the vase.
She requested forgiveness for accidentally breaking the vase.
Often used in legal or formal contexts.
To forgive someone for an offense or mistake
The teacher pardoned the student for being late.
The teacher forgave the student for arriving late.
Can be used as a verb in formal or polite contexts.
An expression used to politely ask someone to repeat what they said
Pardon? I didn't catch what you said.
Excuse me? I didn't hear what you said.
Commonly used in everyday conversation.
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💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
Use 'pardon' in formal contexts to refer to forgiveness or legal amnesty. In informal contexts, it can be used to politely ask someone to repeat what they said.
⚡Gold Rule
Politeness
Using 'pardon' as an interjection is a polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves, especially in formal or professional settings.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'pardoun', from Latin 'perdonare' (to forgive), from 'per-' (thoroughly) + 'donare' (to give).
📝Usage Notes
The word 'pardon' can be used as a noun, verb, or interjection depending on the context. In formal contexts, it often refers to legal forgiveness, while in informal contexts, it can be used to ask someone to repeat what they said.