FORGIVENESS

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of excusing a mistake or offense

Synonyms:

forgiveness; pardon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("forgiveness" is a kind of...):

benignity; kindness (a kind act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "forgiveness"):

condonation (a pardon by treating the offender as if the offense had not occurred)

exculpation (the act of freeing from guilt or blame)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("forgiveness" is a kind of...):

mercifulness; mercy (the feeling that motivates compassion)

Credits

Context examples:

Lastly, the researchers asked participants to view a video of a rejection in action, to assess if feelings of forgiveness can be affected.

(Sometimes You Shouldn't Say Sorry, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

My object then, replied Darcy, was to show you, by every civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The circumstance which chiefly availed was the marriage of his daughter with a man of fortune and consequence, which took place in the course of the summer—an accession of dignity that threw him into a fit of good humour, from which he did not recover till after Eleanor had obtained his forgiveness of Henry, and his permission for him to be a fool if he liked it!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said; but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy, had she known how little offence it had given her sister.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

But she forgave, and with surprise at the ease of her forgiveness.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Love me, then, or hate me, as you will," I said at last, "you have my full and free forgiveness: ask now for God's, and be at peace."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“And if you want to laugh at me, you have my consent and forgiveness.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Those who saw the recipient receiving an apology thought they would feel more obliged to express forgiveness, despite not feeling it.

(Sometimes You Shouldn't Say Sorry, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

‘Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,’ he answered, turning away from me with a sneer.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I implored her forgiveness.