Kilo Lingo

/ɪkˈskjuːz/

Line drawing of excuse
Coloured illustration of excuse
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Translation

To forgive someone for something small, or to say sorry politely before you speak or leave.

Word origin

From Latin excusare, to free someone from blame, from ex, out of, and causa, a cause.

Origin
Latin
Root
excusare
English cognates
cause, accuse

Grammar

Verb typeregular (excuse, excuses, excused)

Examples

, ?

"Excuse me" is the polite way to start speaking to a stranger.

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Here "excuse" asks someone to forgive something small.

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"Be excused" means to be allowed to leave.

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This word is part of lesson 7.