the.com/pardon
Official forgiveness, no apology required — crime stays on record, consequence doesn't.
means A formal act that excuses someone from punishment for an offense, without erasing the fact that it happened.
from From French 'pardon,' built from Latin 'per-' (thoroughly) plus 'donare' (to give, to grant) — the same 'donare' that gives us 'donate.' So a pardon is etymologically a 'thorough giving,' a gift extended all the way, forgiveness handed over completely rather than haggled down. It entered English in the medieval period through the same channel that brought much of the era's legal and religious vocabulary — French court and church language layered onto English law — which is why 'pardon' still carries that faint air of a ruler or judge bestowing mercy from above.
- not innocence
- pardon forgives guilt, doesn't erase it
- presidential power
- US presidents can pardon federal crimes, even pre-charge
- famous first
- ford pardoned nixon before any trial happened
- self-pardon debate
- whether a president can pardon themselves remains untested