apology

• n. 道歉；谢罪；辩护；勉强的替代物

前缀apo-, 离开，远离，相对。词根log-, 说，词源同lecture. 原义指自辩，辩解。后指道歉(道歉本质上也是一种辩解）。

apology

apology: [16] The original meaning of apology was ‘formal self-justification’, often used as the title of a piece of writing rebutting criticism (as in the Apology of Sir Thomas More, knight 1533). This is indicative of the word’s origins in Greek apologíā, a derivative of the verb apologeisthai ‘speak in one’s defence’, formed from the prefix apo- ‘away, off’ and logos ‘speech’ (source of English logic).

It entered English through either French apologie or Latin apologia (which was separately borrowed into English as a Latinism in the late 18th century). The meaning ‘expression of regret for offence given’ developed in the late 16th century.
=> logic

apology (n.)

early 15c., "defense, justification," from Late Latin apologia, from Greek apologia "a speech in defense," from apologeisthai "to speak in one's defense," from apologos "an account, story," from apo- "from, off" (see apo-) + logos "speech" (see lecture (n.)).

The original English sense of "self-justification" yielded a meaning "frank expression of regret for wrong done," first recorded 1590s, but this was not the main sense until 18c. The old sense tends to emerge in Latin form apologia (first attested in English 1784), especially since J.H. Newman's "Apologia pro Vita Sua" (1864).

1. Nancy wasn't sure what to make of Mick's apology.

南希不知应该如何理解米克的道歉。

来自柯林斯例句

2. Westcott appealed to Waite for an apology, which he duly received.

韦斯科特要求韦特道歉，且如愿以偿。

来自柯林斯例句

3. Jones' lawyers are seeking an unreserved apology from the newspaper.

琼斯的律师要求报纸坦诚道歉。

来自柯林斯例句

4. We received a letter of apology.

我们收到了一封致歉信。

来自柯林斯例句

5. I didn't get an apology.

还没有向我道歉。

来自柯林斯例句