Definition of "forgiveness"

At the end of a week, she could bear the suspense no longer, and so went humbly to her old home and sought forgiveness.

1850, T. S. Arthur, “Happy on a Little”, in Sketches of Life and Character‎, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, page 89

But Oh! what anguish can more poignant beThan of the heart which vainly longs to pleadForgiveness from the dead? Shall the dead heed?

1913 January, G. E. Reece, “"The Bookman" Prize Competitions § Results of Competitions for December § Forgive!”, in The Bookman, volume XLIII, number 256

Some devout Christians are among the most fervent advocates of the death penalty, contradicting Jesus Christ and misinterpreting Holy Scriptures and numerous examples of mercy. We remember God’s forgiveness of Cain, who killed Abel, and the adulterer King David, who arranged the killing of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, his lover.

2014, Jimmy Carter, “Full Prisons and Legal Killing”, in A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power‎, Simon & Schuster, page 39

If thou, Lord, shouldest marke iniquities: O Lord, who shal stand? But there is forgiuenesse with thee: that thou mayest be feared.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Psalms 130:3–4

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

1931, Mahatma Gandhi, Young India