Also 5–6 escuse, aphetic SCUSE, q.v. [a. OFr. excuse, fem., f. excuser: see EXCUSE v.
The pronunciation with (s), instead of (z) as in the verb, is due to the analogy of pairs of words like use, abuse vbs. and sbs., advise and advice, etc., where the sb. was in OF. masc., and ended in -s.]
1. The action of the vb. EXCUSE.
a. The action of offering an apology for a person, or in extenuation of an offence. Const. of or possessive case of pers. pron. Now rare exc. in phrase in excuse of. Also rarely the action of begging off from a duty or obligation.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 308. Yf þat I to yowe myne othes beede For myn excuse a scorne shall be my mede.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 227. Ser Robert … sent him mech tresoure, and than he cam to his excuse.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 149. For excuse of the saide socrates.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 76 b. After that folowed doublenes and excuse of his synne.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. iii. 96, D 2. Come Gentlemen,… Euen in your Armours … I will not haue excuse.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., II. i. Letters … in excuse Of these forces sent against her.
1637. Milton, Lycidas, 18. Hence with denial vain and coy excuse.
1792. Anecd. W. Pitt, I. iv. 73. In excuse of their conduct it is said [etc.].
1823. Lingard, Hist. Eng., VI. 251. Henry pleaded the scruples of his conscience in excuse of his precipitancy.
1825. Lytton, Zicci, I. i. The old woman gave me a note of excuse.
b. The action of looking indulgently upon an offender or an offence; consideration, indulgence, pardon.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 24/2. I will … condemn without excuse those that deserve it.
1675. in Essex Papers, I. 318. He begs yor Excys Excuse that you doe not heare from him by this post.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. Pref. p. xxiii. I heartily crave the Excuse and Pardon of every such Reader as truly merits better Entertainment.
a. 1810. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 25. I see my fau’ts … And now I’m come to beg for your excuse.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, III. vii. He pray’d excuse for mirth broke short.
† c. The action of releasing (a person) from an obligation; a dispensation, release. Obs.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 288. Supposing they had got their desired excuse, absented themselves.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 114. Val. I pray go with vs. Virg. Giue me excuse good Madame, I will obey you in euery thing heereafter.
2. That which is offered as a reason for being excused; sometimes in bad sense, a (mere) pretext, a subterfuge. a. A plea in extenuation of an offence; b. A plea for release from a duty, obligation, etc. Const. for, † from.
a. c. 1500. Melusine, 260. Yf it might plese you to here my lord & husband & his escuse.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 42. A bad excuse is better, they say, then none at all.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 245. Stay gentle Helena, heare my excuse.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvii. 156. Place … for EXCUSE, by which that which seemed a Crime, is proved to be none at all.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 853. To him she hasted, in her face excuse Came Prologue.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Lame Excuse, a sorry Shift or Evasion.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, III. xxii. 202. Excuses are more than tacit confessions.
1761. F. Sheridan, Sidney Bidulph, I. 305. I am weary of inventing excuses from absenting myself.
1858. Doran, Crt. Fools, 70. The excuse was worse than the crime.
Comb. 1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. xviii. 297. Dinah was mistress of the whole art and mystery of excuse-making, in all its branches.
b. a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xlvi. 156. None excuse can auayle, for it must be thus.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 405. As for excuse, which peradventure you wil make by reason of the great showers, I meane to admitt none.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 173. Vlis. Achilles will not to the field to morrow. Ag. What’s his excuse?
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 19, ¶ 8. He … has only time to taste the soup, makes a short excuse to the company [etc.].
3. That which serves to excuse, or which tends to extenuate (a fault or offence); a cause, reason, or ground for excuse; esp. in phrase without excuse. Also, a ground for release from duty.
1494. in Eng. Gilds, 188. Noo man then be absent wt-oute a resonable and sufficiaunt excuse.
1533. Frith, Answ. More Let., 9. Them am I bounde to beleve, and am dampned wythoute excuse yf I beleve them not.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. ii. 17. My Nephewes trespasse … hath the excuse of youth.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 140. Wondring not a little why Eromilia would not be seene, for which he beleeved not her vow an excuse sufficient.
a. 1694. Tillotson, Serm., cciii. (1743), X. 4631. The consideration of our own impotency is no excuse to our sloth and negligence.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 129. They tell you for an excuse … that they did not think they were so much in debt.
1794. Paley, Evid., III. iv. (1817), 304. Seeking out some excuse to themselves for not receiving Jesus.
1814. Chalmers, Evid. Chr. Revel., Advt. 5. The external testimony of Christianity … leaves infidelity without excuse.
1887. Times, 29 Aug., 13/6. Charged with knocking without lawful excuse at the door.
4. At Cards (in the game of Tarocco).
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 239. If a king is played, and you have not the queen to form a sequence, you play the fool, and this is called an excuse.
