absolve
English
Etymology
First attested in the early 15th Century. From Middle English absolven, from Latin absolvere, present active infinitive of absolvō (“set free, acquit”), from ab (“away from”) + solvō (“loosen, free, release”).
Pronunciation
Verb
absolve (third-person singular simple present absolves, present participle absolving, simple past and past participle absolved)
- (transitive) To set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.). [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
- You will absolve a subject from his allegiance.
- 1855, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume III:
- Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen.
- (transitive, obsolete) To resolve; to explain; to solve. [Attested from the late 15th century until the mid 17th century.][1]
- 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica[1], page x:
- We shall not absolve the doubt.
- 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica[1], page x:
- (transitive) To pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt. [First attested in the mid 16th century.][1]
- (transitive, law) To pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for. [First attested in the mid 16th century.][1]
- 1807, w:Alexander Pope, The Odyssey by Homer (English translation):
- Absolves the just, and dooms the guilty souls.
- 1807, w:Alexander Pope, The Odyssey by Homer (English translation):
- (transitive, theology) To grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to. [First attested in the mid 16th century.][1]
- 1597, w:William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 5:
- To make confession and to be absolved.
- 1597, w:William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 5:
- (transitive, theology) To remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin. [First attested in the late 16th century.][1]
- 1782, Edward Gibbon, History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, volume VI:
- In his name I absolve your perjury and sanctify your arms.
- 1782, Edward Gibbon, History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, volume VI:
- (transitive, obsolete) To finish; to accomplish. [Attested from the late 16th century until the early 19th century.][1]
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Second Edition, Book VII, line 94
- and the work begun, how soon absolv’d,
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Second Edition, Book VII, line 94
- (transitive) To pass a course or test; to gain credit for a class; to qualify academically.
Usage notes
- (to set free, release from obligations): Normally followed by the word from.
- (to pronounce free from; give absolution for blame): Normally followed by the word from.
Synonyms
- (set free): excuse, exempt, free, release
- (pronounce free or give absolution): acquit, exculpate, exonerate, pardon, remit, vindicate
- (theology: to pronounce free or give absolution from sin): remit
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
set free
pronounce free or give absolution
theology: pronounce free or give absolution from sin
obsolete: finish, accomplish
obsolete: resolve or explain
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
References
- ↑ 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 2003 [1933], Brown, Lesley editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, edition 5th, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7, page 9: