- pardon (n.)
- late 13c., "papal indulgence," from O.Fr. pardonner "to grant, forgive," from V.L. *perdonare "to give wholeheartedly, to remit," from L. per- "through, thoroughly" + donare "give, present" (see donation). Meaning "passing over an offense without punishment is from c.1300; strictly legal sense is from early 14c., in Anglo-Fr. Weaker sense of "excuse for a minor fault" is attested from 1540s. The verb is first recorded early 15c.
" 'I grant you pardon,' said Louis XV to Charolais, who, to divert himself, had just killed a man; 'but I also pardon whoever will kill you.' " [de Sade]
Pardon my French as exclamation of apology for obscene language is from 1895. A pardoner (mid-14c.) was a man licensed to sell papal pardons or indulgences.