forgive
Meaning
To stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offence, flaw, or mistake.
To cancel or remit (a debt).
Structure
Usage
It took her a long time to forgive her brother for breaking the precious vase.
The bank agreed to forgive the remaining loan after the natural disaster.
He asked for a sign that he was truly forgiven.
Etymology
The verb 'forgive' is a native English formation from Old English forgiefan, composed of the intensive prefix for- and the verb giefan (to give). The original, literal sense was "to give completely, to grant," which evolved into the more specific meaning of giving up resentment or remitting a debt. This semantic shift from a physical act of giving to an abstract, moral relinquishment is a classic example of grammaticalization and meaning specialization within the Germanic language family. The modern sense of ceasing to feel anger towards an offender fully emerged by the Middle English period, solidifying the word's primary association with pardon and mercy.
Analysis
- for: Old English prefix, meaning "away, off, completely". It functions as an intensive or completive prefix. - give: Old English core verb, meaning "to grant, bestow, deliver". It functions as the root verb conveying the core action of granting.