pull down to refresh

100 sats \ 2 replies \ @zapsammy 29 Oct \ parent \ on: Stacker Saloon
Latin excusare "excuse, apologize, make an excuse for, plead as an excuse; release from a charge; decline, refuse, excuse the refusal of" (source also of Spanish excusar, Italian scusare), from ex "out, away" + causa "accusation, legal action."
https://www.etymonline.com/word/excuse
write
preview
37 sats \ 1 reply \ @Lux 29 Oct
interesting
"to obtain exemption or release from an obligation or duty; beg to be excused" is from mid-14c.
The weakened sense of "excuse" is attested since 1912, but technically any proof of innocence that doesn't involve being "elsewhere" is an excuse (n.) and not an alibi.
reply
100 sats \ 0 replies \ @zapsammy 29 Oct
both an alibi and an excuse are pleas. perhaps an alibi is given a stronger consideration, because it's about one party making a plea and another party providing the evidence, whereas an excuse is only one party making a plea.
recently i was suspicious of the word "please" - but it appears that it comes from "pleasure" as in "my will, my wish, my pleasure." so technically saying "please, ____" is an expression of a wish rather than a plea/request.
reply