excuse vb. (the foll. are uses now obs.)
1.
to seek to
extenuate (a fault); used with a clause
Err. III. i. 92
“she will well Why at
this time the doors are made against
you”
; absol.
MND. V. i. 364
“Never excuse.”
2.
to maintain the
innocence of, refl. to clear oneself 2H6 I. iii. 181, R3 I. ii. 82.
3.
to beg off from doing
(something), decline
Gent. I. iii. 71
“Excuse it not, for I am
peremptory.”
