• n. 道歉；謝罪；辯護；勉強的替代物

前綴apo-, 離開，遠離，相對。詞根log-, 說，詞源同lecture. 原義指自辯，辯解。后指道歉(道歉本質上也是一種辯解）。

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.

南希不知應該如何理解米克的道歉。

來自柯林斯例句

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

韋斯科特要求韋特道歉，且如愿以償。

來自柯林斯例句

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

瓊斯的律師要求報紙坦誠道歉。

來自柯林斯例句

4. We received a letter of apology.

我們收到了一封致歉信。

來自柯林斯例句

5. I didn't get an apology.

還沒有向我道歉。

來自柯林斯例句