What is "forgave"

Forgave \For*gave"\ (f[o^]r*g[=a]v"), imp. of Forgive.

Forgive \For*give"\, v. t. [imp. Forgave; p. p. Forgiven; p. pr. & vb. n. Forgiving] [OE. forgiven, foryiven, foryeven, AS. forgiefan, forgifan; perh. for- + giefan, gifan to give; cf. D. vergeven, G. vergeben, Icel. fyrirgefa, Sw. f?rgifva, Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See For-, and Give, v. t.]

1. To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to resign.

   To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And to great ones such folly do forgive.
   --Spenser.

2. To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of (an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon; -- said in reference to the act forgiven.

   And their sins should be forgiven them.
   --Mark iv. 12.

   He forgive injures so readily that he might be said to invite them.
   --Macaulay.

3. To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong committed; to give up claim to requital from or retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; -- said of the person offending.

   Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
   --Luke xxiii. 3

4. I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven.
   --Shak.

   Note: Sometimes both the person and the offense follow as objects of the verb, sometimes one and sometimes the other being the indirect object. ``Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.''
   --Matt. vi. 12. ``Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.''
   --Matt. ix. 2.

   Syn: See excuse.

past tense of forgive (q.v.).

vb. (en-simple past of: forgive)

See forgive

1. v. stop blaming or grant forgiveness; "I forgave him his infidelity"; "She cannot forgive him for forgetting her birthday"

2. absolve from payment; "I forgive you your debt"

3. [also: forgiven, forgave]