Past tense: expressed regret or said sorry for something done wrong; offered an explanation or defense (in older usage).
From Late Latin 'apologizare,' from Greek 'apologeisthai' (apo- = away, loge = speech), originally meaning 'to speak in defense.' The meaning shifted to 'regret' around the 1600s in modern English.
Originally, 'apologize' meant to defend yourself with arguments, not to say sorry—it's why we still say 'there's no apology for' meaning 'there's no excuse for'!
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