absolve — to formally release someone from guilt, obligation, or punishment
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to formally release someone from guilt, obligation, or punishment
Pronunciation (IPA): /əbˈzɑːlv/
Example Sentences
- The boss tried to absolve himself by blaming the coffee machine for the project failure.
- The court absolved the defendant of all charges due to lack of evidence.
- My cat seems to absolve herself of knocking over plants by looking extremely cute.
absolve
VERB[/əbˈzɑːlv/]
to formally release someone from guilt, obligation, or punishment
Judge formally releases defendant from guilt
Absolve to help resolve, evolve to truly evolve
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'absolvere', composed of 'ab-' (away) and 'solvere' (to loosen or release). The word entered Middle English through Old French and has been used since the 13th century to mean formally releasing someone from guilt or obligation.
Breakdown
ab- (away, from) + solv- (loosen, release) + -e (infinitive ending) = absolve (to release from guilt or obligation)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The boss tried to absolve himself by blaming the coffee machine for the project failure.”
“The court absolved the defendant of all charges due to lack of evidence.”
“My cat seems to absolve herself of knocking over plants by looking extremely cute.”
“The investigation absolved the company of any environmental violations.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.