absolve

present singular third person absolves · participle present absolving · participle past absolved · past absolved

1. transitiveTo set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.).First known use First attested around 1350 to 1470.

   You will absolve a subject from his allegiance.

   2 more examples

   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, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 410

   Synonyms: excuse, exempt, free, release, befree, deliver, discharge, disentangle

2. obsoletetransitiveTo resolve; to explain; to solve.First known use Attested from the late 15ᵗʰ century until the mid 17ᵗʰ century.

   1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 331-332, […] he that can monsters tame, laboures atchive, riddles absolve […]

   1 more example

   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 book, page 276

   Synonyms: decipher, elucidate, work out, clarify, describe, direct, disclose, elaborate

3. transitiveTo pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt.First known use First attested in the mid 16ᵗʰ century.

   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 wretched or as hated in all the world as a Traitor.

   1993, Rick Priestley, Andy Chambers, Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook, Second edition, Games Workshop, page 22

   Synonyms: acquit, exculpate, exonerate, pardon, remit, vindicate, acquittance, assoil

4. transitivelawTo pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for.First known use First attested in the mid 16ᵗʰ century.

   Abſolves the juſt, and dooms the guilty ſouls.

   1725, Homer, “Book XI”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 121, line 702

   Synonyms: amnesty, forgive, remit

5. transitivelifestyleTo grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to.First known use First attested in the mid 16ᵗʰ century.

   To make confession and to be absolved.

   1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 3, scene 5

   Synonyms: shrive

6. transitivelifestyleTo remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin.First known use First attested in the late 16ᵗʰ century.

   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, chapter LXVII, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume VI, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 447

   Synonyms: remit

7. obsoletetransitiveTo finish; to accomplish.First known use Attested from the late 16ᵗʰ century until the early 19ᵗʰ century.

   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, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 93–94

   Synonyms: complete, conclude, finalize, complete, conclude, consummate, discontinue, do

8. transitiveTo pass a course or test; to gain credit for a class; to qualify academically.