Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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verb
To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive, often
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To express regret that a certain event has occurred.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make an apologia or defense; to act as apologist.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: British, English, Oxford, US, dated, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: apologise
Antonyms: none provided
verb
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationalise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: defend, support, fend for
Narrower terms: color, colour, gloss, plead, extenuate, palliate, mitigate
History
From apology + -ize, from ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defense”), from ἀπολογέομαι (apologéomai, “to speak in one’s defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), compound of ἀπο- (apo-, “from, off”) and λόγος (lógos, “speech”); compare also ἀπολογίζομαι (apologízomai, “to render an account”).
Across languages
143 source translations are retained for this English entry.
