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Resolve definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RESOLVE, v.t. rezolv'. [L. resolvo; re and solvo, to loose.]
1. To separate the component parts of a compound substance; to reduce to first principles; as, to resolve a body into its component or constituent parts; to resolve a body into its elements.
2. To separate the parts of a complex idea; to reduce to simple parts; to analyze.
3. To separate the parts of a complicated question; to unravel; to disentangle of perplexities; to remove obscurity by analysis; to clear of difficulties; to explain; as, to resolve questions in moral science; to resolve doubts; to resolve a riddle.
4. To inform to free from doubt or perplexity; as, to resolve the conscience.
Resolve me, stranger, whence and what you are?
5. To settle in an opinion; to make certain.
Long since we were resolv'd of your truth, your faithful service and your toil in war.
6. To confirm; to fix in constancy.
Quit presently the chapel, or resolve you for more amazement. [Unusual.]
7. To melt; to dissolve.
8. To form or constitute by resolution, vote or determination; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole.
9. In music, to resolve a discord or dissonance, is to carry it, according to rule, into a consonance in the subsequent chord.
10. In medicine, to disperse or scatter; to discuss; as inflammation or a tumor.
11. To relax; to lay at ease.
12. In algebra, to resolve an equation, is to bring all the known quantities to one side of the equation, and the unknown quantity to the other.
RESOLVE, v.i. rezolv'.
1. To fix in opinion or purpose; to determine in mind. He resolved to abandon his vicious course of life.
2. To determine by vote. The legislature resolved to receive no petitions after a certain day.
3. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid.
When the blood stagnates in any part, it first coagulates, then resolves and turns alkaline.
4. To separate into its component parts, or into distinct principles; as, water resolves into vapor; a substance resolves into gas.
5. To be settled in opinion.
Let men resolve of that as they please. [Unusual.]
RESOLVE, n. rezolv'.
1. Fixed purpose of mind; settled determination; resolution.
He strait revokes his bold resolve.
2. Legal or official determination; legislative act concerning a private person or corporation, or concerning some private business. Public acts of a legislature respect the state, and to give them validity, the bills for such acts must pass through all the legislative forms. Resolves are usually private acts, and are often passed with less formality. Resolves may also be the acts of a single branch of the legislature; whereas public acts must be passed by a majority of both branches.
3. The determination of any corporation or association; resolution.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the trait of being resolute; "his resoluteness carried him through the battle"; "it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work" [syn: resoluteness, firmness, firmness of purpose, resolve, resolution] [ant: irresoluteness, irresolution]
2: a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote [syn: resolution, declaration, resolve] v
1: bring to an end; settle conclusively; "The case was decided"; "The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff"; "The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance" [syn: decide, settle, resolve, adjudicate]
2: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation [syn: conclude, resolve]
3: reach a decision; "he resolved never to drink again" [syn: purpose, resolve]
4: understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered" [syn: answer, resolve]
5: make clearly visible; "can this image be resolved?"
6: find the solution; "solve an equation"; "solve for x" [syn: resolve, solve]
7: cause to go into a solution; "The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water" [syn: dissolve, resolve, break up]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (resolved; resolving) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin resolvere to unloose, dissolve, from re- + solvere to loosen, release — more at solve Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. obsolete dissolve, melt 2. a. break up, separate <the prism resolved the light into a play of color>; also to change by disintegration b. to reduce by analysis <resolve the problem into simple elements> c. to distinguish between or make independently visible adjacent parts of d. to separate (a racemic compound or mixture) into the two components 3. to cause resolution of (a pathological state) 4. a. to deal with successfully ; clear up <resolve doubts> <resolve a dispute> b. to find an answer to c. to make clear or understandable d. to find a mathematical solution of e. to split up (as a vector) into two or more components especially in assigned directions 5. to reach a firm decision about <resolve to get more sleep> <resolve disputed points in a text> 6. a. to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote b. to change by resolution or formal vote <the house resolved itself into a committee> 7. to make (as voice parts) progress from dissonance to consonance 8. to work out the resolution of (as a play) intransitive verb 1. to become separated into component parts; also to become reduced by dissolving or analysis 2. to form a resolution ; determine 3. consult, deliberate 4. to progress from dissonance to consonance Synonyms: see decide • resolvable adjective • resolver noun II. noun Date: 1591 1. fixity of purpose ; resoluteness 2. something that is resolved 3. a legal or official determination; especially a formal resolution

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. make up one's mind; decide firmly (resolve to do better). 2 tr. (of circumstances etc.) cause (a person) to do this (events resolved him to leave). 3 tr. (foll. by that + clause) (of an assembly or meeting) pass a resolution by vote (the committee resolved that immediate action should be taken). 4 intr. & tr. (often foll. by into) separate or cause to separate into constituent parts; disintegrate; analyse; dissolve. 5 tr. (of optical or photographic equipment) separate or distinguish between closely adjacent objects. 6 tr. & intr. (foll. by into) convert or be converted. 7 tr. & intr. (foll. by into) reduce by mental analysis into. 8 tr. solve; explain; clear up; settle (doubt, argument, etc.). 9 tr. & intr. Mus. convert or be converted into concord. 10 tr. Med. remove (inflammation etc.) without suppuration. 11 tr. Prosody replace (a long syllable) by two short syllables. 12 tr. Mech. replace (a force etc.) by two or more jointly equivalent to it. --n. 1 a a firm mental decision or intention; a resolution (made a resolve not to go). b US a formal resolution by a legislative body or public meeting. 2 resoluteness; steadfastness. Phrases and idioms: resolving power an instrument's ability to distinguish very small or very close objects. Derivatives: resolvable adj. resolvability n. resolver n. Etymology: ME f. L resolvere resolut- (as RE-, SOLVE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Resolve Re*solve" (r?*z?lv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Resolved (-z?lvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Resolving.] [L. resolvere, resolutum, to untie, loosen, relax, enfeeble; pref. re- re- + solvere to loosen, dissolve: cf. F. r['e]soudare to resolve. See Solve, and cf. Resolve, v. i., Resolute, Resolution.] 1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; -- said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve. O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! --Shak. Ye immortal souls, who once were men, And now resolved to elements again. --Dryden. 2. To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; -- said of complex ideas or obscure questions; to make clear or certain; to free from doubt; to disentangle; to unravel; to explain; hence, to clear up, or dispel, as doubt; as, to resolve a riddle. ``Resolve my doubt.'' --Shak. To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile. --Milton. 3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain. Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. --Beau. & Fl. Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse, Want with a full, or with an empty purse? --Pope. In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled by any region. --Sir W. Raleigh. We must be resolved how the law can be pure and perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over these Eleusinian mysteries. --Milton. 4. To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle; as, he was resolved by an unexpected event. 5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution and vote; to declare or decide by a formal vote; -- followed by a clause; as, the house resolved (or, it was resolved by the house) that no money should be apropriated (or, to appropriate no money). 6. To change or convert by resolution or formal vote; -- used only reflexively; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole. 7. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating the several things to be done, in order to obtain what is required; to find the answer to, or the result of. --Hutton. 8. (Med.) To dispere or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumor. 9. (Mus.) To let the tones (as of a discord) follow their several tendencies, resulting in a concord. 10. To relax; to lay at ease. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. To resolve a nebula.(Astron.) See Resolution of a nebula, under Resolution. Syn: To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Resolve Re*solve", n. 1. The act of resolving or making clear; resolution; solution. ``To give a full resolve of that which is so much controverted.'' --Milton. 2. That which has been resolved on or determined; decisive conclusion; fixed purpose; determination; also, legal or official determination; a legislative declaration; a resolution. Nor is your firm resolve unknown. --Shak. C[ae]sar's approach has summoned us together, And Rome attends her fate from our resolves. --Addison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Resolve Re*solve" (r?-z?lv"), v. i. [The sense ``to be convinced, to determine'' comes from the idea of loosening, breaking up into parts, analyzing, hence, determining.] 1. To be separated into its component parts or distinct principles; to undergo resolution. 2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid. When the blood stagnates in any part, it first coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline. --Arbuthhnot. 3. To be settled in opinion; to be convinced. [R.] Let men resolve of that as they plaease. --Locke. 4. To form a purpose; to make a decision; especially, to determine after reflection; as, to resolve on a better course of life. Syn: To determine; decide; conclude; purpose.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(resolves, resolving, resolved) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. To resolve a problem, argument, or difficulty means to find a solution to it. (FORMAL) We must find a way to resolve these problems before it's too late... VERB: V n 2. If you resolve to do something, you make a firm decision to do it. (FORMAL) She resolved to report the matter to the hospital's nursing manager... She resolved that, if Mimi forgot this promise, she would remind her. VERB: V to-inf, V that 3. Resolve is determination to do what you have decided to do. (FORMAL) This will strengthen the American public's resolve to go to war. = determination N-VAR: oft N to-inf

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Analyze, separate, reduce. 2. Dissolve, melt, liquefy. 3. Disentangle, interpret, decipher, unravel, explain, unfold, solve. 4. Determine, decide, fix in purpose. 5. Confirm, fix in resolution. 6. Prepare, make ready in mind. 7. Reduce, change. 8. (Math.) Solve. 9. (Med.) Disperse, scatter. 10. (Legislation.) Declare, determine on, express. II. v. n. 1. Dissolve, melt, liquefy, become fluid. 2. Intend, purpose, decide, determine, conclude, form a resolution, make up one's mind, come to a determination. 3. Determine by vote. 4. Be convinced, by settled in opinion. III. n. 1. Intention, resolution, determination, fixed purpose. 2. Declaration (by a legislature or an organized body), resolution, determination.

Moby Thesaurus

abort, accommodate, adjust, adopt, agree, aim, aim at, alter into, ambition, analyze, anatomize, animus, answer, approve, arrange matters, ascertain, aspiration, aspire after, aspire to, assay, be after, be converted into, be determined, become, block out, bottom, break, break down, break up, breakdown, bring to terms, bring together, cease, change into, choose, choose to, clear up, close, command, commitment, compose, compromise, conclude, counsel, crack, debug, decide, decidedness, decipher, decision, decisiveness, decode, decompose, decree, dedication, definiteness, desideration, desideratum, design, desire, destine, detail, determinateness, determination, determine, determinedness, devotion, disabuse, disentangle, dispel, disperse, dissect, dissipate, dissolve, divide, divine, do, dope, dope out, drive at, earnestness, effect, end, endeavor, enumerate, explain, fathom, figure, figure out, find, find out, find the answer, find the solution, finish, finish up, firmness, fix, fix up, fixed purpose, function, get, get right, go for, guess, guess right, harbor a design, harmonize, have every intention, have it, heal the breach, hit it, idea, intend, intendment, intent, intention, interpret, itemize, labor, make a decision, make out, mean, meaning, mediate, mind, motive, nisus, number, obstinacy, open the lock, outline, parse, pass, patch things up, perorate, perseverance, persistence, plan, plumb, point, project, proposal, propose, prospectus, psych, psych out, purge, purport, purpose, purposefulness, put in tune, puzzle out, ravel, ravel out, reconcile, reduce, reduce to, reduce to elements, relentlessness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve into, resolvedness, restore harmony, reunite, rid, riddle, rule, sake, scan, schematize, scrap, scratch, seal, see fit, seek, segment, self-will, separate, seriousness, settle, settle differences, sincerity, single-mindedness, smooth it over, solve, sort out, stop, strain, strive, striving, struggle, study, subdivide, sweat, sweat blood, take a resolution, tenacity, terminate, think, think fit, think good, think proper, total commitment, undertake, undo, unfold, unlock, unravel, unriddle, unscramble, untangle, untwist, unweave, view, weave peace between, will, wind up, wish, work, work out