ABSOLVE

absolve, free

(verb) let off the hook; “I absolve you from this responsibility”

shrive, absolve

(verb) grant remission of a sin to; “The priest absolved him and told him to say ten Hail Marys”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

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.]

(transitive, obsolete) To resolve; to explain; to solve. [Attested from the late 15^th century until the mid 17^th century.]

(transitive) To pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt. [First attested in the mid 16^th century.]

(transitive, legal) To pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for. [First attested in the mid 16^th century.]

(transitive, theology) To grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to. [First attested in the mid 16^th century.]

(transitive, theology) To remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin. [First attested in the late 16^th century.]

(transitive, obsolete) To finish; to accomplish. [Attested from the late 16^th century until the early 19^th century.]

(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

Source: Wiktionary

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Ab*solve" (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Absolving.] Etym: [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. 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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