apologize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing

   They apologised for their actions.

2. 2
   verb

   to defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

   The defendant apologised in many ways, but none could be taken seriously.

3. 3
   verb

   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.

4. 4
   verb

   To make an apologia or defense; to act as apologist.

   To this purpose the most witty, cautious and subtile ſort of the Pagans apologize for themselves

5. 5
   verb

   To express regret that a certain event has occurred.

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”).