apologize
verbUK /əˈpɒləˌd͡ʒaɪz/ · US /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/
Etymology From apology + -ize, from ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defense”), from ἀπολογέομαι (apologéomai, “to speak in one’s defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), compound of ἀπο- (apo-, “from, off”) and λόγος (lógos, “speech”); compare also ἀπολογίζομαι (apologízomai, “to render an account”).
1
British, English, Oxford, US, Often, Followed by “for” To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends
- My correspondent apologized for not answering my letter.
- Barnes was commanded, with Garrett and Jerome, to make a public acknowledgment of his errors; and to apologize especially for his insolent language to Gardiner1856, James Anthony Froude, History of England from the fall of Wolsey to the death of Elizabeth:
1 more example
- Today I want to apologize to my co-workers.2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
- To this purpose the most witty, cautious and subtile ſort of the Pagans apologize for themselves1660, H[enry] More, An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness; […], London: […] J[ames] Flesher, for W[illiam] Morden […], →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- apologist, apologizable, apologization, apologizer, apologiser, apologizingly, overapologize, preapologize, reapologize, unapologizing
- Related terms
- apologetics, apology