absolve

Where does the word "absolve" come from? It comes from Latin absolvere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Absolve’s story begins in Latin: absolvere meant “to free from guilt.” To loosen away, to free from guilt, from ab- (away) and solvere (to loosen). It reached English by 1400s as absolve. First recorded before 1475 in an English translation of Ranulf Higden's Latin world chronicle, the 'Polychronicon'. Today, absolve means to formally declare someone free from blame, guilt, or obligation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient absolvere "to free from guilt", to loosen away, to free from guilt, from ab- (away) and solvere (to loosen).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s absolve "to formally free someone from guilt or blame", first recorded before 1475 in an English translation of Ranulf Higden's Latin world chronicle, the 'Polychronicon'.