| 释义 |
apologize, v.|əˈpɒlədʒaɪz|
[apology + -ize; cf. Gr. ἀπολογέ-εσθαι to speak in defence: ἀπολογίζεσθαι, to which the formation corresponds, is a deriv. of ἀπόλογος apologue.]
1. intr. To speak in, or serve as, justification, explanation, or palliation of a fault, failure, or anything that may cause dissatisfaction; to offer defensive arguments; to make excuses. Also in modern usage: To acknowledge and express regret for a fault without defence, by way of reparation to the feelings of the person affected. Const. for.
1597Daniel Civ. Wars iv. ii, Enforced to apologize With foreign states for two enormous things. 1656H. More Antid. Ath. Pref. 12, I can justly apologize for my self that Necessity has no law. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 96 They had very little wine, which the governor apologised for. 1755Mem. P. Drake Ded., Circumstances which might well have apologized for such a Conduct. 1860Cornh. Mag. 243 We are wont in a sneaking, contemptible sort of way, to apologize for our holidays. 1878Seeley Stein III. 497 Stein, as usual, sins by over-emphatic expressions for which he later freely apologises.
†2. trans. (by omission of prep. for.) Obs. rare.
1733Swift Apol. Wks. 1755 IV. i. 212 The doctor takes his hint from hence, T' apologise his late offence. |