Obs. Also 5 aphetic SCUSATION. [a. Fr. excusation, ad. L. excūsātiōn-em, f. excūsāre: see EXCUSE.]
1. The action of offering an excuse, defence or apology; also, the condition of being excused, in phrase To have in excusation.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9261 (Gött.). He sal find widvten excusacions Sexti alde generacions [from Adam to Christ].
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 440. Worldliche excusacioun shal not þenne assoyne [printed assoyve].
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxxix. 478. I am a synnere In alle thynge … therfore haueth me now in excusaciown.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 84. Whiche maner of excusacyon may be many wayes.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iii. § 6. D 4. It [learning] … needes the lesse disproofe or excusation.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 6. Ligation or Excusation and Accusation.
2. The action of setting free, or the state of being set free, from a duty, obligation, etc.; release from a duty, etc.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 34. Wiþout excusacoun, but if … Crist despens wiþ hem, & excuse hem, or for bed hem.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), II. i. 87. Yt we sholde not haue excusacyon not doynge them.
a. 1540. Coverdale, Lett. to Crumwell, Wks. II. 491. I was required … to deliver this writing to your mastership mine own self: notwithstanding … I must desire favour on your behalf for my excusation [etc.].
3. An excuse, a real or alleged ground of excuse; a plea or apology; = EXCUSE sb. 2 and 3.
a. for an offence, etc.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 411. Heere ben þre excusaciouns … to excuse prestis synne.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 97. She wost not what she might do nor sey, for there was none excusacion in her folye.
1563. Davidson, Answ. Kennedy, in Wodr. Soc. Misc., 192. Men that had fallin in error wald have had ane juste excusation, that the wrang [etc.].
1650. B., Discolliminium, 45. I … shall be allowed the full benefit of all the … excusations … that I and my Mare can devise.
b. for release from a duty, obligation, etc.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 90. No man may been absent for certes there auailleth noon Essoyne ne excusacion.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., II. xxxvi. (1838), 388. Now is there none excusacione on thi side, but thou shalt take me to thyne husbonde.
1530. Proper Dyaloge (1863), 41. Yt it be not lefull to ye by no excusacion to tarye fyue dayes.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 281/2. Neither by petition made to the pope, nor yet by his lawfull excusation.
1662. Gunning, Lent-Fast, 157. The 4 Excusations are … bodily infirmity [etc.].
