apology: usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with OR without reference to extenuating circumstances: said by way of ~ that he would have met them if he could.


apologia: sometimes apology, implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position: the speech was an effective ~ for his foreign policy.



excuse: implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure: used his illness as an ~ for missing the meeting.


plea: stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy: her usual ~ that she was nearsighted.


pretext: suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation: used any ~ to get out of work. (subterfuge故意欺骗，如paltry ~ of an referendum公投这一小欺骗手段)  (paltry小微不足道)


alibi: implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes plausibility rather than truth to the explanation offered: his ~ failed to withstand scrutiny.


apology道歉: 为错误失误遗憾，承认罪责过错，无论是否提到可使罪责减轻的情况(extenuatingcircumstances)，apologia辩解: 不是承认过错，而是讲清某过程想法立场的根据，excuse开脱或原谅: 希望免受责备谴责，plea请求: 强调为得到理解同情怜悯(understanding,sympathy,mercy) 而进行的论证请求(argument,appeal)，pretext借口: 表示欺骗手段(subterfuge欺骗==deceit)，为开脱解释给出虚假原因或目的，alibi也是借口: 希望转移责任逃脱惩罚，表示似是而非不真实(plausible有两个意思: 1似乎有道理，2花言巧语，这里采用第2个)。


记忆方法：1）首字母AAEPPA: 3A2P1E==>ape类人猿，似是而非的人<==似是而非的理由


          2）辩解的意思是解释或辩护mean matter offered in explanation or defense.