Pronunciation: [pˈɑːdənəz] (IPA) 
The word "pardoners" is spelled with two syllables, /ˈpɑrdnərz/. The first syllable is pronounced as "pard," with the vowel sound /ɑ/ as in "car." The second syllable is pronounced as "ners," with the vowel sound /ə/ as in "about." The spelling of this word follows the English language convention of adding an "-ers" suffix to the noun "pardoner," which refers to a person who sells papal indulgences or grants pardons for sins.
Pardoners refer to individuals who are authorized or licensed by a higher religious authority, such as the Catholic Church in medieval times, to grant pardons or remissions for sins. They were part of the church's system of indulgences, which allowed the faithful to obtain forgiveness for their sins through various means, including monetary donations.
In medieval Europe, pardoners would travel from town to town, church to church, offering indulgences to the people. They would preach sermons, present relics, and engage in persuasive rhetoric to convince individuals to make donations in exchange for forgiveness. Pardoners often carried around a collection of relics, claiming they possessed special holy powers and could provide specific benefits to those who made offerings.
However, pardoners were sometimes viewed with skepticism and suspicion, as there were instances where they exploited people's fears and guilt to enrich themselves at the expense of the vulnerable. Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" includes a character called "The Pardoner," who is depicted as a corrupt and deceitful figure profiting off the ignorance and desperation of the people.
Today, the term "pardoners" is often used metaphorically to describe individuals who exploit others' weaknesses or vulnerabilities for personal gain. It can refer to people who manipulate the emotions of others or take advantage of their mistakes or guilt, seeking forgiveness on material or non-genuine grounds.
