SG Heritage Dictionary

Absolve [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. abzolv', [Latin absolvo, from ab and solvo, to loose or release; to absolve to finish; Heb. to loose or loosen. See Solve .]

2. To set free or release from some obligation, debt or responsibility; or from that which subjects a person to a burden or penalty; as to absolve a person from a promise; to absolve an offender, which amounts to an acquittal and remission of his punishment. Hence, in the civil law, the word was used for acquit; and in the canon law, for forgive, or a sentence of

3. remission. In ordinary language, its sense is to set free or release from an engagement. Formerly, good writers used the word in the sense of finish, accomplish; as to absolve work, in Milton; but in this sense, it seems to be obsolete.

Absolve [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.

2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); -- said of the sin or guilt.

3. To finish; to accomplish.

4. To resolve or explain.

Absolved [Participle passive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Released; acquitted; remitted; declared innocent.

Absolved [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Absolve

Absolvent [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Absolving.

Absolvent [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

An absolver.

Absolver [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

One who absolves; also one that pronounces sin to be remit.

Absolver [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

One who absolves.