1. One who offers an excuse for or extenuates (a fault).
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Excuseur, an excuser.
1643. Milton, Divorce, II. xi. (1851), 89. Miserable excusers.
1730. Swift, Vind. Ld. Carteret, Wks. 1761, III. 189. In vain would his excusers endeavour to palliate his enormities by imputing them to madness.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1858), 164. She was the excuser-general of the neighbourhood, turned every speech and action the sunny side without.
1871. Smiles, Charac., iv. 92. To the sophistries of such an excuser, Sir Samuel Romilly once wrote [etc.].
† 2. One who obtains the release of another from a duty, etc., by taking his place; a substitute, deputy. Cf. EXCUSE v. 4. Obs.
1461–83. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord., 65. The Steward and Thesaurers excusers and attorneys … may take it in absence of the gretter and elder.
