absolvo Latin · revision 30779

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la solvō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [apˈsɔɫ.woː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [abˈsɔl.vo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''absolvō''' (present infinitive absolvere, perfect active absolvī, supine absolūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''apsolvō''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ab-|solvō|t1=from, away|t2=to loosen, release]], “to loosen from”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Etymonline) De Vaan explains [[m|la|solvō]] as a compound of ⟨*se-⟩ “away” and [[m|la|luō|t=to loosen]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who uses it of paying people off: ''dūcuntur, datur aes; iam absolūtōs cēnseās'', “they are taken off, the money is paid; you'd think them settled with”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Absolvō'' is to free from bonds, release (Tacitus), and above all, in law, to find not guilty, acquit (Cicero: an innocent man, if accused, can be acquitted).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also to clear of a charge, to free from an obligation, and to settle one's account with someone, pay off (Plautus).^(OLD 2012) With ''verbō'' or ''paucīs'' it is to say in a word, sum up (Plautus: ''ūnō verbō absolvam, lēnōst'', “to put it in one word, he's a pimp”), and it is to finish or complete a task (Varro: ''arātiōnēs absolvī'', “I have finished the ploughing”).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “absolve, pardon, release, forgive”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|absolve]] (early 15th century) comes from it, Old French [[m|fro|assoldre]] is its inherited form.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''iam absolūtōs cēnseās''.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro: ''arātiōnēs absolvī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of acquitting the innocent.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English [[m|en|absolve]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To set free, release, untie.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(law)'' To [[m|en|acquit]], find not guilty.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To clear of a charge, justify; to free from an obligation.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To pay off, settle with.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To sum up, say briefly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To finish, [[m|en|complete]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' To [[m|en|absolve]], forgive.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[absolūtē]]

+ * [[absolūtiō]]

+ * [[absolūtōrius]]

+ * [[absolūtus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dēsolvō]]

+ * [[dissolvō]]

+ * [[exsolvō]]

+ * [[persolvō]]

+ * [[resolvō]]

+ * [[solvō]]

+ * [[luō]]

+ * [[en|absolve]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}