Word of the Day

: April 19, 2007

absolve

verb ub-ZALV

What It Means

1 : to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt

2 : to remit (a sin) by absolution

absolve in Context

The fact that Andrew was the ringleader does not absolve his friends of responsibility for their part in the prank.

Did You Know?

The act of absolving can be seen as releasing someone from blame or sin, or "loosening" the hold that responsibility has on a person, which provides a hint about the word's origins. "Absolve" was adopted into Middle English in the 15th century from the Latin verb "absolvere," formed by combining the prefix "ab-" ("from, away, off") with "solvere," meaning "to loosen." ("Absolve" also once had additional senses of "finish, accomplish" and "to resolve or explain," but these are now obsolete.) "Solvere" is also the ancestor of the English words "solve," "dissolve," "resolve," "solvent," and "solution."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.