condone (kond on)

t.; pret. and pp. con doned, ppr. pr. condoning. [= OF. condoner, con = duner, condonner, cunduner, permit, suffer, pardon, Sp. Pg. condonar = It. cond on are, Condone, an old legal technicality, has of late received a popular welcome, as a stately euphemism for 'pardon' or overlook.' F. Hall , Mod. Eng. (ed. 1873), p. 299. War was rather condoned than consecrated, and, whatever might be the case with a few isolated prelates, the Church did nothing to increase or encourage it. Lecky , Europ. Morals, II. 266. We are not to a ume that every offence might be con doned for a certain sum in money. C. H. Pearson, Early and Mid. Ages of Eng., xxxiii. Specifically-2. In law , to forgive, or to act so as to imply forgivene of (a violation of the marriage vow). See condonation , 2.— 3. Το cause to overlook or forgive; atone for. [Rare.]