From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Absolve \Ab*solve"\ (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Absolved}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Absolving}.] [L. absolvere to set free, to
absolve; ab + solvere to loose. See {Assoil}, {Solve}.]
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.
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Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen.
--Macaulay.
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2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); --
said of the sin or guilt.
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In his name I absolve your perjury. --Gibbon.
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3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.]
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The work begun, how soon absolved. --Milton.
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4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] "We shall not absolve the
doubt." --Sir T.
Browne.
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Syn: To {Absolve}, {Exonerate}, {Acquit}.
Usage: We speak of a man as absolved from something that
binds his conscience, or involves the charge of
wrongdoing; as, to absolve from allegiance or from the
obligation of an oath, or a promise. We speak of a
person as exonerated, when he is released from some
burden which had rested upon him; as, to exonerate
from suspicion, to exonerate from blame or odium. It
implies a purely moral acquittal. We speak of a person
as acquitted, when a decision has been made in his
favor with reference to a specific charge, either by a
jury or by disinterested persons; as, he was acquitted
of all participation in the crime.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
absolve
v 1: grant remission of a sin to; "The priest absolved him and
told him to say ten Hail Mary's" [syn: {shrive}, {absolve}]
2: let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility"
[syn: {absolve}, {justify}, {free}] [ant: {blame}, {fault}]
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