ببخشید

ببخشید comes from the verb بخشیدن (bakhshīdan), a native Persian verb inherited from Middle Persian baxtan, baxš ("to apportion, to distribute"). The same root produces بخشش (bakhshesh, "forgiveness, generosity"), بخشنده (bakhshande, "forgiving, generous"), and the noun بخش (bakhsh, "section, portion, gift"). Both senses (to forgive and to give) go back to an older meaning, "to apportion, to distribute". Saying it preemptively softens any request.