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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Absolve \Ab*solve"\ (#; 277), verb (used with an object) [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) 2.0 [wn]:
absolve
verb
1: grant remission of a sin to; "The priest absolved him and told him to say ten Hail Mary's"
2: let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility" [syn: {justify}, {free}] [ant: {blame}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
54 Moby Thesaurus words for "absolve": acquit, administer absolution, administer extreme unction, amnesty, cancel, clear, confess, declare a moratorium, decontaminate, destigmatize, discharge, dismiss, dispense, dispense from, dispense with, except, exculpate, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, forgive, free, give absolution, give dispensation from, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, hear confession, justify, let go, let off, make confession, nonpros, nullify, obliterate, pardon, purge, quash the charge, receive absolution, release, relieve, remise, remit, save the necessity, set free, shrive, spare, vindicate, whitewash, wipe out, withdraw the charge, write off
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