מָחַל (cmp. מָחָה) [to blot out, annul,] to remit (a debt); to forgive, pardon, to forego, renounce. Keth. 85ᵇ המוכר … וחזר ומְחָלוֹ מָחוּל if one sells a note of indebtedness to a neighbor, and then remits the debt, it stands remitted (and the buyer of the note must settle with the creditor). Ib. מְחָלַתּוּ she remitted it. Y. B. Mets. VI, end, 11ᵃ שמָחֲלוּ להם מוכסין to whom custom officers remitted the fine. Ib. לשם פלוני מָחַלְנוּ we remitted (the fine) for this man’s sake (individually). Ber. 12ᵇ מוֹחֲלִין לו על כל וכ׳ all his sins are forgiven to him. Ib. 32ᵃ איני … עד שתִּמְחוֹל ותסלח להם וכ׳ I will not leave thee until thou forgivest and pardonest &c.—Sabb. 30ᵃ מְחוֹל לי על וכ׳ forgive me that particular sin (the seduction of Bathsheba); מָחוּל לך thou art forgiven; a. v. fr.—מ׳ על כבודו to forego the honor due to one’s self. Kidd. 32ᵃ האב שמ׳ … כבודו מָחוּל if a father allows a son to omit the acts of reverence due to him, his honor is remitted (the son may avail himself of the permission); הרב שמ׳ וכ׳ but if a teacher gives permission &c.; a. fr.—Num. R. s. 19 שאין המוֹחֵל נעשה וכ׳ for he who is asked to forgive, must not be relentless (v. B. Kam. VIII, 7).
Nif. - נִמְחַל to be cancelled; to be forgiven, pardoned. B. Mets. 17ᵃ; Gitt. 26ᵇ, a. e. שטר … שכבר נ׳ שעבודו on a note once given and paid off you cannot raise a loan again, because the security which it contains (v. אַחֲרָיוּת) has once been cancelled. Yoma 88ᵃ סדורין לִימָּחֵל (his sins) lie ready to be forgiven. Taan. 7ᵇ אא"כ נִמְחֲלוּ וכ׳ unless Israel’s sins are forgiven. B. Kam. VIII, 7 אע"פ שהוא נותן אין נ׳ לו וכ׳ although he pays (the fine for insulting a neighbor), he is not forgiven (by the Lord), until he asks pardon; a. fr.—V. מְחִילָה.