scusato

Scusato is the past participle of the Italian verb scusare, which means to excuse, to apologize, or to pardon. In Italian grammar, scusato appears in compound tenses with avere, as well as in passive constructions and when used as an adjective.

In verbal usage, scusare takes a direct object, so forms such as ho scusato someone or ho scusato a situation are possible, though more common in context-specific sentences. The passive voice uses essere with the past participle, for example: l’assenza è stata scusata (the absence has been excused) or il ritardo è stato scusato (the delay was excused). When scusato functions as an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: il ritardo scusato (masculine singular), la ritardo scusata is not correct; instead, la scusa è stata accettata means accepted apology, while un ritardo scusato communicates that the delay was excused.

Etymology traces scusare to the Latin excusare, itself built from ex- “out, away” and causa “cause,” reflecting the sense of freeing someone from blame or impropriety. The noun scusa (an apology or excuse) shares the same root.

Usage notes: scusato is more common in written or formal Italian when describing something that has been excused or justified, whereas everyday speech often uses phrases like mi scuso or chiedo scusa for direct apologies. Related terms include scusa, scusarsi, and giustificare; antonyms focus on blame or reproach rather than excuse.