English Explanatory Dictionary

absolve

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.).
To resolve; to explain; to solve.
To pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt.
To pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for.
To grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to.
To remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin.
To finish; to accomplish.
To pass a course or test; to gain credit for a class; to qualify academically.

Pronunciation

/əbˈzɒlv/ /æbˈzɑlv/ /-ˈsɑlv/ /əbˈ-/ /-ˈsɔlv/ /-ˈzɔlv/ en-us-absolve.ogg

Word forms

absolve absolves absolving absolved

Etymology

First attested in the early 15th century. From Middle English absolven, from Latin absolvere (“set free, acquit”), from ab (“away from”) + solvō (“loosen, free, release”). Doublet of assoil.

Synonyms

excuse exempt free release absolve befree deliver discharge disentangle extricate let go let loose liberate loose set free turn loose unleash decipher elucidate work out clarify describe direct disclose elaborate explain expound illustrate inform instruct justify specify teach unravel untangle upsolve get to the bottom of iron out meliorate puzzle out ravel reason out resolve riddle sleuth solve tease out think out unpuzzle unriddle unsolve Any from Thesaurus:untangle acquit exculpate exonerate pardon remit vindicate acquittance assoil

Related words

absolutionary absolutive absolutory absolvatory

Derived words

absolvable absolvement absolver reabsolve unabsolve

Translations

Bulgarian: оправдавам Bulgarian: опрощавам Dutch: vrijspreken Dutch: vergeven Dutch: absolveren Finnish: armahtaa Finnish: vapauttaa syytöksistä Finnish: antaa synninpäästö French: absoudre German: freisprechen German: lossprechen German: absolvieren Greek: συγχωρώ Hungarian: feloldoz Italian: assolvere Latin: absolvō Latin: condono Latin: absolvo Māori: whakaharakore Norwegian Bokmål: absolvere Norwegian Bokmål: frikjenne Persian: عفو کردن Persian: آمرزیدن Portuguese: absolver Portuguese: redimir Slovene: oprostiti Slovene: pomilostiti Slovene: odvezati Slovene: dati odvezo Spanish: absolver Swedish: frikänna Swedish: avlösa Swedish: ge absolution åt Turkish: bağışlamak Turkish: yarlıgamak Turkish: aklamak Esperanto: senpekigi Esperanto: pekliberigi Norwegian: tilgi Polish: rozgrzeszać Polish: rozgrzeszyć Polish: absolwować Russian: проща́ть Russian: отпуска́ть

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