ABSOLVE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Absolve

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/əbzˈɑlv/ /æbzˈɑlv/ Listen

verb

Absolve v. t. (past & past part. absolved; pres. part. absolving)

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."

To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); said of the sin or guilt. "In his name I absolve your perjury."

To finish; to accomplish. (Obs.) "The work begun, how soon absolved."

To resolve or explain. (Obs.) "We shall not absolve the doubt."

Synonyms: 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.

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Etymology of 'Absolve'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Absolve" Quotes from Famous Books

... was no slight achievement to have said so many human and helpful things so unpriggishly. And certainly no one could call Where No Fear Was a pedantic work; its qualities of gentle humour and, above all, of sincerity absolve it from this charge and should commend it even to those who, as ...

— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, April 29, 1914 • Various

... Of as good faith as any man alive. Hereafter, to absolve yourself, you'll cry, That you repent of having wrong'd me thus. I sha'n't care that for your excuse. (Snapping his fingers.) Be sure I'll prosecute my right; nor shall fine words Atone for evil deeds. I know your way, —"I'm sorry that I ...

— The Comedies of Terence • Publius Terentius Afer

... that Carol would be confronted with the man whom she believed to be her father. What if she were to bring Vane face to face with him and he knew him for what he was, what would he do, not as man, but as priest—forgive or retain, absolve or damn? ...

— The Missionary • George Griffith

... benefactress to pay for a lad's schooling for three years without a thought of his future prospects, after diverting him from a career in which he might have found happiness. The circumstances of the time, and Louis Lambert's character, may to a great extent absolve Madame de Stael for her thoughtlessness and her generosity. The gentleman who was to have kept up communications between her and the boy left Blois just at the time when Louis passed out of the college. The political events that ensued were then a sufficient ...

— Louis Lambert • Honore de Balzac

... at the same time, to save appearances. It would certainly be presumptuous to accept implicitly the narrative of de Thou, which is literally followed by Hoofd and by many modern writers. On the other hand, it would be an exaggeration of historical scepticism to absolve Philip from the murder of his son, solely upon negative testimony. The people about court did not believe in the crime. They saw no proofs of it. Of course they saw none. Philip would take good care that there should be none if he had made up his mind that the death of the Prince should ...

— The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1555-1566 • John Lothrop Motley

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