absolve

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əbˈzɑlv/ UK /əbˈzɒlv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to free someone from blame, guilt, or obligation

The court absolved her of all responsibility.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to free someone from blame,... acquit exonerate pardon forgive clear excuse exculpate vindicate

Opposites

condemn convict blame charge incriminate

Word family

Derived forms absolutionabsolverabsolvable

Related forms absolute dissolve resolve solve

Simplified etymology

Absolve dates from Late Middle English and comes from the same Latin root as solve, Latin solvere “loosen, unfasten”; its root sense is “loosen from.”

Etymology

From Latin absolvere ('to set free, acquit, complete'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen, release').

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

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# absolve

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əbˈzɑlv/
**IPA (UK):** /əbˈzɒlv/

## Meanings
1. to free someone from blame, guilt, or obligation

## Examples
- The court absolved her of all responsibility.

## Synonyms
- acquit
- exonerate
- pardon
- forgive
- clear
- excuse
- exculpate
- vindicate

## Antonyms
- condemn
- convict
- blame
- charge
- incriminate

## Derived Forms
- absolution
- absolver
- absolvable

## Related Forms
- absolute
- dissolve
- resolve
- solve

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

## Etymology
From Latin absolvere ('to set free, acquit, complete'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen, release').

## AI Etymology
Absolve is from Latin absolvere ('to set free, acquit, complete'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen, release'). In present-day use, it means to free someone from blame, guilt, or obligation. Derived formations include absolution, absolver, and absolvable. Related vocabulary includes absolute, dissolve, resolve, and solve.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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