Adjacent Words

Absolve definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ABSOLVE', v.t. abzolv', [L. absolvo, from ab and solvo, to loose or release; to absolve, to finish; Heb. to loose or loosen. See Solve.]
To set free or release from some obligation, debt or responsibility; or from that which subjects a person to a burden or penalty; as to absolve a person from a promise; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Hence, in the civil law, the word was used for acquit; and in the canon law, for forgive, or a sentence of
remission. In ordinary language, its sense is to set free or release from an engagement. Formerly, good writers used the word in the sense of finish, accomplish; as to absolve work, in Milton; but in this sense, it seems to be obsolete.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: grant remission of a sin to; "The priest absolved him and told him to say ten Hail Mary's" [syn: shrive, absolve]
2: let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility" [syn: absolve, justify, free] [ant: blame, fault]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (absolved; absolving) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin absolvere, from ab- + solvere to loosen — more at solve Date: 15th century 1. to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt 2. to remit (a sin) by absolution Synonyms: see exculpate • absolver noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 (often foll. by from, of) a set or pronounce free from blame or obligation etc. b acquit; pronounce not guilty. 2 pardon or give absolution for (a sin etc.). Derivatives: absolver n. Etymology: L absolvere (as AB-, solvere solut- loosen)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Absolve Ab*solve" (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Absolving.] [L. absolvere to set free, to absolve; ab + solvere to loose. See Assoil, Solve.] 1. To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or responsibility, or from the consequences of guilt or such ties as it would be sin or guilt to violate; to pronounce free; as, to absolve a subject from his allegiance; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. --Macaulay. 2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); -- said of the sin or guilt. In his name I absolve your perjury. --Gibbon. 3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.] The work begun, how soon absolved. --Milton. 4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] ``We shall not absolve the doubt.'' --Sir T. Browne. Syn: To Absolve, Exonerate, Acquit. Usage: We speak of a man as absolved from something that binds his conscience, or involves the charge of wrongdoing; as, to absolve from allegiance or from the obligation of an oath, or a promise. We speak of a person as exonerated, when he is released from some burden which had rested upon him; as, to exonerate from suspicion, to exonerate from blame or odium. It implies a purely moral acquittal. We speak of a person as acquitted, when a decision has been made in his favor with reference to a specific charge, either by a jury or by disinterested persons; as, he was acquitted of all participation in the crime.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(absolves, absolving, absolved) If a report or investigation absolves someone from blame or responsibility, it formally states that he or she is not guilty or is not to blame. A police investigation yesterday absolved the police of all blame in the incident. ...the inquiry which absolved the soldiers. = excuse VERB: V n of/from n, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. Acquit, clear, release, liberate, free, discharge, loose, deliver, exculpate, exonerate, excuse, forgive, pardon, shrive, set free. See justify.

Moby Thesaurus

acquit, administer absolution, administer extreme unction, amnesty, cancel, clear, confess, declare a moratorium, decontaminate, destigmatize, discharge, dismiss, dispense, dispense from, dispense with, except, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, forgive, free, give absolution, give dispensation from, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, hear confession, justify, let go, let off, make confession, nonpros, nullify, obliterate, pardon, purge, quash the charge, receive absolution, release, relieve, remise, remit, save the necessity, set free, shrive, spare, vindicate, whitewash, wipe out, withdraw the charge, write off