%olv%

a. Conferring absolution; absolutory. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); -- said of the sin or guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

In his name I absolve your perjury. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To finish; to accomplish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The work begun, how soon absolved. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To resolve or explain. [ Obs. ] “We shall not absolve the doubt.” Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Absolve, Exonerate, Acquit. 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 ]

a. [ L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere. ] Absolving. [ R. ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An absolver. [ R. ] Hobbes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who absolves. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Circumvolved p. pr. & vb. n. Circumvolving. ] [ L. circumvolvere, -volutum; circum + volvere to roll. ] To roll round; to cause to revolve; to put into a circular motion. Herrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To roll round; to revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Firearms) A revolver made according to a system using a patented revolving cylinder, holding six cartridges, patented by Samuel Colt, an American inventor, in 1835. With various modifications, it was for many years been the standard for the United States army. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Convolved p. pr. & vb. n. Convolving. ] [ L. convolvere, -volutum; con- + volvere to roll. See Voluble. ] To roll or wind together; to roll or twist one part on another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then Satan first knew pain,
And writhed him to and fro convolved. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Convolvus. ] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the bindweed and the morning-glory are common examples. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A glucoside occurring in jalap (the root of a convolvulaceous plant), and extracted as a colorless, tasteless, gummy mass of powerful purgative properties. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. L.Convolvuli E. Convoluluses [ L., bindweed, fr. convolvere to roll around. So named from its twining stems. ] (Bot.) A large genus of plants having monopetalous flowers, including the common bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), and formerly the morning-glory, but this is now transferred to the genus Ipomæa. [ 1913 Webster ]

The luster of the long convolvuluses
That coiled around the stately stems. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Devolved p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving. ] [ L. devolvere, devolutum, to roll down; de + volvere to roll down; de + volvere to roll. See Voluble. ] 1. To roll onward or downward; to pass on. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every headlong stream
Devolves its winding waters to the main. Akenside. [ 1913 Webster ]

Devolved his rounded periods. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand down; -- generally with upon, sometimes with to or into. [ 1913 Webster ]

They devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favorite. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or down; -- generally with on or upon, sometimes with to or into; as, after the general fell, the command devolved upon (or on) the next officer in rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

His estate . . . devolved to Lord Somerville. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of devolving;; devolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To uncover; to unfold or unroll; to disentangle. [ R. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Capacity of being dissolved; solubility. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Dissolve, cf. Dissoluble. ] Capable of being dissolved, or separated into component parts; capable of being liquefied; soluble. -- Dis*solv"a*ble*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

Though everything which is compacted be in its own nature dissolvable. Cudworth. [1913 Webster]

Such things as are not dissolvable by the moisture of the tongue. Sir I. Newton. [1913 Webster]

n. Having the power to dissolve anything; solvent. [ Obs. ] Frampton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dissolved p. pr. & vb. n. Dissolving. ] [ L. dissolvere, dissolutum; dis- + solvere to loose, free. See Solve, and cf. Dissolute. ] 1. To separate into competent parts; to disorganize; to break up; hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing can dissolve us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. The Declaration of Independence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc., ; to melt; to liquefy; to soften. [ 1913 Webster ]

As if the world were all dissolved to tears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. “Dissolved the mystery.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Dan. v. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.

Syn. -- See Adjourn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied. [ 1913 Webster ]

A figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power. [ 1913 Webster ]

The charm dissolves apace. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. changed from a solid to a liquid state by increase of temperature; melted. Opposite of unmelted.
Syn. -- liquefied, liquified, melted. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. sundered by divorce, separation, or desertion; -- of social bonds and relations. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. diffused into a liquid of differing chemical composition, forming a stable solution; -- said of chemical substances. [ PJC ]

n. 1. That which has the power of dissolving or melting other substances, esp. by mixture with them; a menstruum; a solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Melted in the crucible dissolvents. A. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

The secret treaty of December acted as an immediate dissolvent to the truce. Mothley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A remedy supposed capable of dissolving concretions in the body, such as calculi, tubercles, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. dissolvens, -entis, p. pr. of dissolvere. ] Having power to dissolve power to dissolve a solid body; as, the dissolvent juices of the stomach. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, has power to dissolve or dissipate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou kind dissolver of encroaching care. Otway. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Melting; breaking up; vanishing. -- Dis*solv"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Dissolving view, a picture which grows dim and is gradually replaced by another on the same field; -- an effect produced by magic lanterns. [1913 Webster]

p. p. of Delve. [ Obs. ] Rom. of R. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Evolved p. pr. & vb. n. Evolving. ] [ L. evolvere, evolutum; e out + volvere to roll. See Voluble. ] 1. To unfold or unroll; to open and expand; to disentangle and exhibit clearly and satisfactorily; to develop; to derive; to educe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The animal soul sooner evolves itself to its full orb and extent than the human soul. Sir. M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

The principles which art involves, science alone evolves. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not by any power evolved from man's own resources, but by a power which descended from above. J. C. Shairp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To throw out; to emit; as, to evolve odors. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become open, disclosed, or developed; to pass through a process of evolution. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of evolving, or the state of being evolved; evolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. evolvens, -entis, unrolling, p. pr. of evolvere. ] (Geom.) The involute of a curve. See Involute, and Evolute. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. exolvere, exsolutum; ex out + solvere. ] To loose; to pay. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + dissolvable. Cf. Indissoluble. ] Not dissolvable; incapable of being dissolved or separated; incapable of separation; perpetually firm and binding; indissoluble; as, an indissolvable bond of union. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Indissolubleness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not solvable; insoluble; admitting no solution or explanation; as, an insolvable problem or difficulty. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Incapable of being paid or discharged, as debts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not capable of being loosed or disentangled; inextricable. “Bands insolvable.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Insolvencies (Law) (a) The condition of being insolvent; the state or condition of a person who is insolvent; the condition of one who is unable to pay his debts as they fall due, or in the usual course of trade and business; as, a merchant's insolvency. (b) Insufficiency to discharge all debts of the owner; as, the insolvency of an estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Act of insolvency. See Insolvent law under Insolvent, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + solvent: cf. OF. insolvent. ] (Law) (a) Not solvent; not having sufficient estate to pay one's debts; unable to pay one's debts as they fall due, in the ordinary course of trade and business; as, in insolvent debtor. (b) Not sufficient to pay all the debts of the owner; as, an insolvent estate. (c) Relating to persons unable to pay their debts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Insolvent law, or
Act of insolvency, a law affording relief, -- subject to various modifications in different States, -- to insolvent debtors, upon their delivering up their property for the benefit of their creditors; bankruptcy law. See Bankrupt law, under Bankrupt, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) One who is insolvent; as insolvent debtor; -- in England, before 1861, especially applied to persons not traders. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. intervolved p. pr. & vb. n. intervolving. ] [ Pref. inter- + L. volvere, volutum, to roll. ] To involve one within another; to twist or coil together. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Involved p. pr. & vb. n. Involving. ] [ L. involvere, involutum, to roll about, wrap up; pref. in- in + volvere to roll: cf. OF. involver. See Voluble, and cf. Involute. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To roll or fold up; to wind round; to entwine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some of serpent kind . . . involved
Their snaky folds. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To envelop completely; to surround; to cover; to hide; to involve in darkness or obscurity. [ 1913 Webster ]

And leave a singèd bottom all involved
With stench and smoke. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To complicate or make intricate, as in grammatical structure. “Involved discourses.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To connect with something as a natural or logical consequence or effect; to include necessarily; to imply. [ 1913 Webster ]

He knows
His end with mine involved. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The contrary necessarily involves a contradiction. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To take in; to gather in; to mingle confusedly; to blend or merge. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The gathering number, as it moves along,
Involves a vast involuntary throng. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earth with hell
To mingle and involve. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To envelop, infold, entangle, or embarrass; as, to involve a person in debt or misery. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To engage thoroughly; to occupy, employ, or absorb. “Involved in a deep study.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Math.) To raise to any assigned power; to multiply, as a quantity, into itself a given number of times; as, a quantity involved to the third or fourth power.

Syn. -- To imply; include; implicate; complicate; entangle; embarrass; overwhelm. -- To Involve, Imply. Imply is opposed to express, or set forth; thus, an implied engagement is one fairly to be understood from the words used or the circumstances of the case, though not set forth in form. Involve goes beyond the mere interpretation of things into their necessary relations; and hence, if one thing involves another, it so contains it that the two must go together by an indissoluble connection. War, for example, involves wide spread misery and death; the premises of a syllogism involve the conclusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Same as Involute. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being involved. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of involving, or the state of being involved. Lew Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being irresolvable; irresolvableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. ir- not + resolvable. Cf. Irresoluble. ] Incapable of being resolved; not separable into component parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Irresolvable nebulæ (Astron.), nebulæ of a cloudlike appearance, which have not yet been resolved by the telescope into stars, and are often distant galaxies. See galaxy{ 2 }. Sir W. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. The quality or state of being irresolvable; irresolvability. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without settled determination; in a hesitating manner; doubtfully. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. withdrawing from the activities of a group.
Syn. -- non-engagement, nonparticipation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]