scusavate

Scusavate is the second-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb scusare, which means to excuse or to apologize. It corresponds to voi scusavate in standard Italian and is used with the subject you all. Scusare is a regular -are verb, so its imperfect forms follow the typical endings: -avo, -avi, -ava, -avamo, -avate, -avano.

Usage and meaning:

The form expresses a past habitual action or an ongoing action in the past, indicating that "you all used to apologize" or "you were apologizing" at the time described. It is common in narrative or descriptive contexts to portray past behavior. It can take a direct object, as in “voi scusavate i vostri errori” (you all apologized for your mistakes), or be used with a complement to specify what was being apologized for.

Differences and notes:

Scusavate is distinct from the present tense scusate (you all apologize) and from the imperfect of other senses of the verb, such as scusarsi, which means to apologize to someone in a reflexive sense. The imperfect form is often paired with time markers like “quando” or “spesso” to emphasize the habitual nature of the past action.

Etymology:

Scusare derives from the Latin excusare, from ex- plus causa, meaning to make an excuse or to excuse. The form scusavate inherits this root through the Italian -are verb conjugation pattern.