Meaning

noun the act of excusing a mistake or offense

noun a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense

noun the formal act of liberating someone

originFrom Middle English pardonen, from Old French pardoner (modern French pardonner), from Late Latin perdōnāre, from per- + dōnāre, possibly a calque (if not vice-versa) of a Germanic word represented by Frankish *firgeban (“to forgive, give up completely”), from *fir- + *geban. Akin to Old High German fargeban, firgeban (“to forgive”), Old English forġiefan (“to forgive”). More at forgive.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0