pardon
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɑːdn̩/
ipa: /ˈpɑɹdn̩/
ipa: [ˈpʰɑ˞dn̩]
ipa: /ˈpaːdɘn/
ipa: [ˈpʰäːɾɘn]
rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)dən
Forms: form: pardons
Etymology: From Middle English pardonen, from Old French pardoner (modern French pardonner), from Late Latin perdonare, from per- + donare, possibly a calque (if not vice-versa) of a Germanic word represented by Frankish *firgeban (“to forgive, give up completely”), from *fir- + *geban. Akin to Old High German fargeban, firgeban (“to forgive”), Old English forġiefan (“to forgive”). More at forgive.
Senses: examples: text: […] a step, that could not be taken with the least hope of ever obtaining pardon from or reconciliation with any of my friends; […]
ref: 1748, [Samuel Richardson], Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; […], →OCLC:
text: According to this logic, the pardons Balteira gained on her pilgrimage should have revirginated her, and would have if she had an 'iron box', or a firm dedication to her Christian faith, with which to guard her chastity.”
ref: 1997, Denise Keyes Filios, Women Out of Bounds:
synonyms: clemency
glosses: Forgiveness for an offence.
examples: text: The President[…]shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
text: NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from July^([sic – meaning January]) 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.
ref: 1974 September 8, Gerald R. Ford, 00:24 from the start, in Proclamation 4311, archived from the original on 18 May 2017, page 2:
text: But the president's most irreversible, almost God-like power is the authority granted to him under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, "to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses Against the United States. . . ."
The power is absolute-even a serial killer could be pardoned-and utterly unreviewable. It cannot be rescinded by the next president. The president may grant a pardon before a trial, after a trial, or without a trial. Once granted, a pardon can never be taken away.
ref: 2001, Barbara Olson, “The Final Frenzy: Finishing Touches on the Legend”, in The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House (Politics/Current Affairs), Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 7:
text: A source familiar with Trump legal strategy says his team believes Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter has set a new precedent for presidents to issue expansive pardons to their children – and this could be something Trump chooses to do before he leaves office.
ref: 2024 December 5, Marshall Cohen, MJ Lee, Paula Reid and Katelyn Polantz, “Biden White House considering preemptive pardons for Trump’s perceived enemies”, in CNN:
topics: law
glosses: An order that releases a convicted criminal without further punishment, prevents future punishment, or (in some jurisdictions) removes an offence from a person's criminal record, as if it had never been committed.
Derived terms: begging your pardon
beg pardon
beg someone's pardon
I beg your pardon
pardonee
Pardongate
pardonless
pardonmonger
Paschal pardon
prepardon
self-pardon