[f. EXCUSE v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb EXCUSE in various senses; also, an instance of this; a plea or ground of excuse.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxl. 3. Swa be oure lippis … sperd til excusynge of syn.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 512. Ȝif þis excusinge were soþ.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6588. Noon excusynges A parfit man ne shulde seke.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., Annunc., 78. They sayde ther helpyd none excusyng, And wed us thus togeder.
1590. Swinburne, Testaments, 103. Those lawes concerninge excusinge of tutors and curators are verie seldome or not at all practised.
1664. South, Serm. John xv. 15 (1737), II. ii. 58. Many … things … may go a great way towards an excusing of the agent.
