resolve

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

Resolve’s story begins in Latin: resolvere meant “to loosen, to settle.” To loosen back, to settle, from re- (back) and solvere (to loosen). It reached English by 1400s as resolve. Settled as the English word for finding a solution, or firmly deciding something. Today, resolve means to find a solution to a problem, or to make a firm decision.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient resolvere "to loosen, to settle", to loosen back, to settle, from re- (back) and solvere (to loosen).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s resolve "to find a solution, or to firmly decide something", settled as the English word for finding a solution, or firmly deciding something.