A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not excuse him from guilt in practicing it, if really and indeed it be against Gog's law. Abp. Sharp.

I must excuse what can not be amended. Shak.

And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.)
No whiter page than Addison remains. Pope.

I pray thee have me excused. xiv. 19.

Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? 2 Cor. xii. 19.

Syn. -- To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit. - To Pardon, Excuse, Forgive. A superior pardons as an act of mercy or generosity; either a superior or an equal excuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave offence, as one against law or morals, may be pardoned; a small fault, such as a failure in social or conventional obligations, slight omissions or neglects may be excused. Forgive relates to offenses against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to forgive injuries or one who has injured us; to pardon grave offenses, crimes, and criminals; to excuse an act of forgetfulness, an unintentional offense. Pardon is also a word of courtesy employed in the sense of excuse.

Pleading so wisely in excuse of it. Shak.

Hence with denial vain and coy excuse. Milton.

If eyes were made for seeing.
Then beauty is its own excuse for being. Emerson.

Syn. -- See Apology.