pardon

Where does the word "pardon" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin perdonare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Pardon’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: perdonare meant “to forgive completely.” To give thoroughly, to forgive completely, from per- (thoroughly) and donare (to give). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pardoner. Carried into French for forgiving an offense. It reached English by 1300s as pardon. Settled as the English word for forgiving someone for an offense. Today, pardon means to forgive someone for an offense, or an official release from punishment.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · medieval perdonare "to forgive completely", to give thoroughly, to forgive completely, from per- (thoroughly) and donare (to give).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pardoner "to forgive an offense", carried into French for forgiving an offense.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s pardon "to forgive someone for an offense", settled as the English word for forgiving someone for an offense.