ABSOLVE • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Absolve

Translators

Dictionaries

Courses

Other

Home

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/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.

See images of 'Absolve'

Etymology of 'Absolve'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Absolve" Quotes from Famous Books

... that Lassen will express in noble music the inspiration of this fete intended to perpetuate the memory of an illustrious and sympathetic artist. But however successful may be his composition, it does not absolve you from yours, which filial affection demands of you and will dictate to you. Write it without delay, and afterwards take advantage of your leisure at Hal to fulfil the praiseworthy ...

— Letters of Franz Liszt, Volume 2: "From Rome to the End" • Franz Liszt; letters collected by La Mara and translated

... Perchance you would retain the treasure? If such your wish, why then, I say, Henceforth absolve me from my task, Nor longer waste your hours of leisure. I trust you're not by avarice led! I rub my ...

— The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, • Editor-in-Chief: Kuno Francke

... live unless you abandon the wrath that overwhelms me, and unless you grant me the favour of a pardon which I beg at your feet. Decide to do one or the other quickly: to punish, or to absolve. ...

— Amphitryon • Moliere

... at his disposal. When I told her that I loved her, I did not speak, as you seem to think, from an impulse of the moment. I spoke because I loved her; and as I love her, I shall of course try to win her. Nothing can absolve me from my engagement to her but her marriage with ...

— Castle Richmond • Anthony Trollope

... show the Protestant its little shortcomings, and that it is slightly in debt to her (like Providence) for her constancy, notwithstanding. The Protestant you see, does not confess, and she has to absolve herself, and must be doing it internally while she is directing outer matters. Hence her slap at King Henry VIII. In fact, there is much more business in this letter than I dare to indicate; but as it ...

— The Shaving of Shagpat • George Meredith

More quotes...