condone
verbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//kənˈdəʊn//
- United States//kənˈdoʊn//
To forgive, excuse or overlook (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).
verb
- 1
To forgive, excuse or overlook (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).
‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police[…]? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?
- 2
To allow, accept or permit (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).
Rule-utilitarianism is unlikely to condone torturing a child, but it does imply that the torturing of a child is less evil if the torturer shares his pleasure with other sadists-perhaps by inviting an audience, or broadcasting it on the Internet.
- 3
To forgive (marital infidelity or other marital offense).
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin condōnāre (“to forgive”).
Forms
- past tense
- condoned
- past participle
- condoned
- present participle
- condoning
- third person singular
- condones
condone · To forgive, excuse or overlook (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).
conduct · The act or method of controlling or directing.conducting · Synonym of conductive.conductor · One who conducts or leads; a guide; a director.