Pretext
131excuse — 1 verb (T) 1 excuse me spoken a) used when you want to get someone s attention politely, especially when you want to ask a question: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the museum please? b) used to say that you are sorry for doing something… …
132apology — apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi denote the reason or reasons offered in explanation or defense of something (as an act, a policy, or a view). In general use apology implies that one has been, at least apparently, in the wrong; it… …