condone

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To forgive, excuse or overlook (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).

   ‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police[…]? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?

2. 2
   verb

   To allow, accept or permit (something that is considered morally wrong, offensive, or generally disliked).

   Rule-utilitarianism is unlikely to condone torturing a child, but it does imply that the torturing of a child is less evil if the torturer shares his pleasure with other sadists-perhaps by inviting an audience, or broadcasting it on the Internet.

3. 3
   verb

   to excuse, overlook, or make allowances for

4. 4
   verb

   To forgive (marital infidelity or other marital offense).

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin condōnāre (“to forgive”).