pardon
par|don /p'ɑːrdən/ (pardons pardoning pardoned)
1 [CONVENTION]
You say `Pardon?' or `I beg your pardon?' or, in American English, `Pardon me?' when you want someone to repeat what they have just said because you have not heard or understood it. (SPOKEN)
`Will you let me open it?'--`Pardon?'--`Can I open it?'...
2 [CONVENTION]
People say `I beg your pardon?' when they are surprised or offended by something that someone has just said. (SPOKEN)
`Would you get undressed, please?'--`I beg your pardon?'--`Will you get undressed?'
3 [CONVENTION]
You say `I beg your pardon' or `I do beg your pardon' as a way of apologizing for accidentally doing something wrong, such as disturbing someone or making a mistake. (SPOKEN)
I was impolite and I do beg your pardon...
4 [CONVENTION]
Some people say `Pardon me' instead of `Excuse me' when they want to politely get someone's attention or interrupt them. (mainly BRIT SPOKEN; in AM, use excuse me)
Pardon me, are you finished, madam?
5 [CONVENTION]
You can say things like `Pardon me for asking' or `Pardon my frankness' as a way of showing you understand that what you are going to say may sound rude. (SPOKEN)
That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.
6 [CONVENTION]
Some people say things like `If you'll pardon the expression' or `Pardon my French' just before or after saying something which they think might offend people. (SPOKEN)
It's enough to make you wet yourself, if you'll pardon the expression.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is pardoned, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished.
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
[N-COUNT]
Pardon is also a noun.
He was granted a presidential pardon.
1 [CONVENTION]
You say `Pardon?' or `I beg your pardon?' or, in American English, `Pardon me?' when you want someone to repeat what they have just said because you have not heard or understood it. (SPOKEN)
`Will you let me open it?'--`Pardon?'--`Can I open it?'...
2 [CONVENTION]
People say `I beg your pardon?' when they are surprised or offended by something that someone has just said. (SPOKEN)
`Would you get undressed, please?'--`I beg your pardon?'--`Will you get undressed?'
3 [CONVENTION]
You say `I beg your pardon' or `I do beg your pardon' as a way of apologizing for accidentally doing something wrong, such as disturbing someone or making a mistake. (SPOKEN)
I was impolite and I do beg your pardon...
4 [CONVENTION]
Some people say `Pardon me' instead of `Excuse me' when they want to politely get someone's attention or interrupt them. (mainly BRIT SPOKEN; in AM, use excuse me)
Pardon me, are you finished, madam?
5 [CONVENTION]
You can say things like `Pardon me for asking' or `Pardon my frankness' as a way of showing you understand that what you are going to say may sound rude. (SPOKEN)
That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.
6 [CONVENTION]
Some people say things like `If you'll pardon the expression' or `Pardon my French' just before or after saying something which they think might offend people. (SPOKEN)
It's enough to make you wet yourself, if you'll pardon the expression.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is pardoned, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished.
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
[N-COUNT]
Pardon is also a noun.
He was granted a presidential pardon.