Forgiveness
/fərˈɡɪv.nəs/noun
The action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.
Did you know?The Old English term for 'forgive', 'forgiefan', literally means 'to give up or let go', linking forgiveness to the act of releasing one's burdens or sins.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*frōgēną
“to give freely, to give up”
Old English
OE
forgiefan
“to give up, grant, or let go”
Middle English
ME
forgieven
“to grant pardon, to remit”
14th Century
Latin
ignoscere
“to overlook, pardon”
Modern English
English
forgiveness
“the act of forgiving, the state of being forgiven”