DictionaryRoot: giefan
Old English
giefan
to give
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adjective
forgiving
fer-GIV-ing/fərˈɡɪvɪŋ/
Tolerant of mistakes without imposing severe consequences.
Etymology
Give, probably intensified by for-, developed the sense of giving up the desire or power to punish. The -ing adjective describes someone inclined to make that release rather than remain angry about an offense.