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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

forgive but don't forget en · VERB

Etymology

In reference to the phrase forgive and forget.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To pardon someone of wrongdoing while retaining awareness of their past behavior to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
    • Amanda feels strongly that it is necessary "to forgive, but don't forget. Don't forget what happened to you, but it's in the past, just leave it." 2021, Nadine E. Dolby, Constructing Race: Youth, Identity, and Popular Culture in South Africa, page 101:
    • 'Forgive, forget,' we're wisely told, Is held a maxim good and old; But half the maxim's better yet,– THEN OH FORGIVE–BUT DON'T FORGET 1841, Samuel Lover, Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine, volume 1, number 1, page 8: