Origin: Germanic Old English suffix
Forgiveness has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive
"Her forgiveness was not just an absence of anger, but a genuine compassion that invited him back into her life."
the act of excusing a mistake or offense
"After hearing her side, he offered forgiveness for the accidental damage she caused to his car."
The action of forgiving.
"Her forgiveness came after she spent months apologizing and making amends."
The word comes from the Old English combination of "forgive" and "-ness," meaning the state or quality of having been forgiven. It entered Middle English in this same form before evolving into modern usage.