absolve

Etymology

First attested in the early 15th century. From Middle English absolven, from Latin absolvere, present active infinitive of absolvō (“set free, acquit”), from ab (“away from”) + solvō (“loosen, free, release”). Doublet of assoil.

verb

1. (transitive) To set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.).
   You will absolve a subject from his allegiance.
   Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. 1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”, in Essays: First Series
2. (transitive, obsolete) To resolve; to explain; to solve.
   1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 331-332, […] he that can monsters tame, laboures atchive, riddles absolve […]
3. (transitive) To pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt.
4. (transitive, law) To pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for.
5. (transitive, theology) To grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to.
   To make confession and to be absolved. 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 3, scene 5
6. (transitive, theology) To remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin.
7. (transitive, obsolete) To finish; to accomplish.
8. (transitive) To pass a course or test; to gain credit for a class; to qualify academically.