absolution

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/ UK /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
formal release from guilt, sin, or punishment

The penitent knelt and received absolution from the priest.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · formal release from guilt,... forgiveness pardon acquittal exoneration remission clemency exculpation

Opposites

condemnation blame punishment conviction

Word family

Related forms absolve absolute resolution

Etymology

From Latin absolūtiō, absolūtiōn- ('acquittal, completion'), from absolvere ('to set free, acquit'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen, free').

absolūtiō Latin solvere Latin *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# absolution

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/

## Meanings
1. formal release from guilt, sin, or punishment

## Examples
- The penitent knelt and received absolution from the priest.

## Synonyms
- forgiveness
- pardon
- acquittal
- exoneration
- remission
- clemency
- exculpation

## Antonyms
- condemnation
- blame
- punishment
- conviction

## Related Forms
- absolve
- absolute
- resolution

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: absolūtiō
- Root: solvere
- Root: *lewh₁-

## Etymology
From Latin absolūtiō, absolūtiōn- ('acquittal, completion'), from absolvere ('to set free, acquit'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen, free').

## AI Etymology
absolution comes from Latin absolūtiō, absolūtiōn- ('acquittal, completion'), from absolvere ('to set free, acquit'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen, free'). Morphologically, the word is transparent as a compound: its parts remain visible in the modern spelling, while the older history of those parts supplies the deeper ancestry. In modern use, the noun sense is "formal release from guilt, sin, or punishment", which keeps the etymology connected to the word's present dictionary value rather than treating it as a merely historical label. The wider word family includes related English forms such as absolve, absolute, resolution, showing how the same base continues to support neighboring English vocabulary. The principal historical forms in the chain include Latin absolūtiō, Latin solvere, Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁-, which anchor the explanation in named linguistic material.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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