forgives

Verb

forgive (third-person singular simple present forgives, present participle forgiving, simple past forgave, past participle forgiven)

1. (transitive) To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.
   • Please forgive me if my phone goes off - I'm expecting an urgent call from my boss.
2. (transitive) To pardon (something); to waive any negative feeling over or retribution for.
   • Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
     ⁠Confusions of a wasted youth;
     ⁠Forgive them where they fail in truth,
     And in thy wisdom make me wise.1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC
3. (transitive) To waive or remit (a debt), to absolve from payment or compensation of.
   • Forgive a debt, that is, tell a debtor that a repayment of a loan is no longer needed.
4. (intransitive) To accord forgiveness.
   • The brave know only how to forgive […] A coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.a. 1768, Laurence Sterne, Joseph's History considered; - Forgiveness of Injuries (sermon)
5. (transitive) To look past; to look beyond.
   • The music critic loves the instrumentation of the song so much that he can forgive the confusing lyrics.
6. (transitive) To redeem; to offset the bad effects of something.
   • Okay, a good hook forgives everything.2015, Todd in the Shadows, The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2014