 |
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Resolve \Re*solve"\ (r?*z?lv"), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Resolved} (-z?lvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Resolving}.] [L. resolvere, resolutum, to untie, loosen, relax, enfeeble; pref. re- re- + solvere to loosen, dissolve: cf. F. r['e]soudare to resolve. See {Solve}, and cf. {Resolve}, verb (used without an object), {Resolute}, {Resolution}.]
1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; -- said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve.
O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! --Shak.
Ye immortal souls, who once were men, And now resolved to elements again. --Dryden.
2. To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; -- said of complex ideas or obscure questions; to make clear or certain; to free from doubt; to disentangle; to unravel; to explain; hence, to clear up, or dispel, as doubt; as, to resolve a riddle. ''Resolve my doubt.'' --Shak.
To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile. --Milton.
3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain.
Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. --Beau. & Fl.
Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse, Want with a full, or with an empty purse? --Pope.
In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled by any region. --Sir W. Raleigh.
We must be resolved how the law can be pure and perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over these Eleusinian mysteries. --Milton.
4. To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle; as, he was resolved by an unexpected event.
5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution and vote; to declare or decide by a formal vote; -- followed by a clause; as, the house resolved (or, it was resolved by the house) that no money should be apropriated (or, to appropriate no money).
6. To change or convert by resolution or formal vote; -- used only reflexively; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole.
7. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating the several things to be done, in order to obtain what is required; to find the answer to, or the result of. --Hutton.
8. (Med.) To dispere or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumor.
9. (Mus.) To let the tones (as of a discord) follow their several tendencies, resulting in a concord.
10. To relax; to lay at ease. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
{To resolve a nebula}.(Astron.) See {Resolution of a nebula}, under {Resolution}.
Syn: To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Resolve \Re*solve"\ (r?-z?lv"), verb (used without an object) [The sense ''to be convinced, to determine'' comes from the idea of loosening, breaking up into parts, analyzing, hence, determining.]
1. To be separated into its component parts or distinct principles; to undergo resolution.
2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid.
When the blood stagnates in any part, it first coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline. --Arbuthhnot.
3. To be settled in opinion; to be convinced. [R.]
Let men resolve of that as they plaease. --Locke.
4. To form a purpose; to make a decision; especially, to determine after reflection; as, to resolve on a better course of life.
Syn: To determine; decide; conclude; purpose.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Resolve \Re*solve"\, noun
1. The act of resolving or making clear; resolution; solution. ''To give a full resolve of that which is so much controverted.'' --Milton.
2. That which has been resolved on or determined; decisive conclusion; fixed purpose; determination; also, legal or official determination; a legislative declaration; a resolution.
Nor is your firm resolve unknown. --Shak.
C[ae]sar's approach has summoned us together, And Rome attends her fate from our resolves. --Addison.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
resolve
noun
1: the trait of being resolute; firmness of purpose; "his resoluteness carried him through the battle"; "it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work" [syn: {resoluteness}, {firmness}, {resolution}] [ant: {irresoluteness}]
2: a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote [syn: {resolution}, {declaration}]
verb
1: bring to an end; settle conclusively; "The case was decided"; "The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff"; "The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance" [syn: {decide}, {settle}, {adjudicate}]
2: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation [syn: {conclude}]
3: reach a decision; "he resolved never to drink again" [syn: {purpose}]
4: understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered" [syn: {answer}]
5: make clearly visible; "can this image be resolved?"
6: find the solution; "solve an equation"; "solve for x" [syn: {solve}]
7: cause to go into a solution; "The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water" [syn: {dissolve}, {break up}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
221 Moby Thesaurus words for "resolve": abort, accommodate, adjust, adopt, agree, aim, aim at, alter into, ambition, analyze, anatomize, animus, answer, approve, arrange matters, ascertain, aspiration, aspire after, aspire to, assay, be after, be converted into, be determined, become, block out, bottom, break, break down, break up, breakdown, bring to terms, bring together, cease, change into, choose, choose to, clear up, close, command, commitment, compose, compromise, conclude, counsel, crack, debug, decide, decidedness, decipher, decision, decisiveness, decode, decompose, decree, dedication, definiteness, desideration, desideratum, design, desire, destine, detail, determinateness, determination, determine, determinedness, devotion, disabuse, disentangle, dispel, disperse, dissect, dissipate, dissolve, divide, divine, do, dope, dope out, drive at, earnestness, effect, end, endeavor, enumerate, explain, fathom, figure, figure out, find, find out, find the answer, find the solution, finish, finish up, firmness, fix, fix up, fixed purpose, function, get, get right, go for, guess, guess right, harbor a design, harmonize, have every intention, have it, heal the breach, hit it, idea, intend, intendment, intent, intention, interpret, itemize, labor, make a decision, make out, mean, meaning, mediate, mind, motive, nisus, number, obstinacy, open the lock, outline, parse, pass, patch things up, perorate, perseverance, persistence, plan, plumb, point, project, proposal, propose, prospectus, psych, psych out, purge, purport, purpose, purposefulness, put in tune, puzzle out, ravel, ravel out, reconcile, reduce, reduce to, reduce to elements, relentlessness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve into, resolvedness, restore harmony, reunite, rid, riddle, rule, sake, scan, schematize, scrap, scratch, seal, see fit, seek, segment, self-will, separate, seriousness, settle, settle differences, sincerity, single-mindedness, smooth it over, solve, sort out, stop, strain, strive, striving, struggle, study, subdivide, sweat, sweat blood, take a resolution, tenacity, terminate, think, think fit, think good, think proper, total commitment, undertake, undo, unfold, unlock, unravel, unriddle, unscramble, untangle, untwist, unweave, view, weave peace between, will, wind up, wish, work, work out
 |
Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |