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absolve

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absolve


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Absolve  \Ab*solve"\  (#;  277),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Absolved};  p. 
  pr  &  vb  n.  {Absolving}.]  [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}. 
 
  Usage:  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  absolve 
  v  :  let  off  the  hook  [syn:  {justify},  {free}]  [ant:  {blame}] 




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