absolve
To set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.).
Verb
- To set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.).
- You will absolve a subject from his allegiance.
- Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. - 1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”, in Essays: First Series:
- The Committee divided, and Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. - 1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XIV, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman,...
Synonyms: excuse exempt free release absolve befree deliver discharge disentangle extricate let go let loose liberate loose set free turn loose unleash
- To resolve; to explain; to solve.
- 1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 331-332, […] he that can monsters tame, laboures atchive, riddles absolve […]
- we ſhall not abſolve the doubt. - 1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the blackneſſe of Negroes”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 6th...
Synonyms: decipher elucidate work out absolve clarify describe direct disclose elaborate explain expound illustrate inform instruct justify specify teach unravel untangle upsolve get to the bottom of iron out meliorate puzzle out
- To pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt.
- A Heretic may see the truth and seek redemption. He may be forgiven his past and will be absolved in death. A Traitor can never be forgiven. A Traitor will never find peace in this world or the next. There is nothing as...
Synonyms: acquit exculpate exonerate pardon remit vindicate acquittance assoil assoilzie absolve clear disculp disculpate
- To pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for.
- Abſolves the juſt, and dooms the guilty ſouls. - 1725, Homer, “Book XI”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 121, line 702:
- To grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to.
- To make confession and to be absolved. - 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 3, scene 5:
Synonyms: shrive
- To remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin.
- In his name I abſolve your perjury and ſanctify your arms: follow my footſteps in the paths of glory and ſalvation; and if ſtill ye have ſcruples, devolve on my head the puniſhment and the ſin. - 1788, Edward Gibbon,...
Synonyms: remit
- To finish; to accomplish.
- and the work begun, how ſoon / Abſolv'd, - 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker,...
Synonyms: complete conclude finalize absolve consummate discontinue do end finish fullcome get through round off stay stop terminate wind up
- To pass a course or test; to gain credit for a class; to qualify academically.
Origin
First attested in the early 15th century. From Middle English absolven, from Latin absolvere (“set free, acquit”), from ab (“away from”) + solvō (“loosen, free, release”). Doublet of assoil.