1. The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute; the principles or practice of absolute
or arbitrary government; despotism.
The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling.
Palfrey.
2. (Theol.) Doctrine of absolute decrees. Ash.
Absolutist
(Ab"so*lu`tist) n.
1. One who is in favor of an absolute or autocratic government.
2. (Metaph.) One who believes that it is possible to realize a cognition or concept of the absolute.
Sir. W. Hamilton.
Absolutist
(Ab"so*lu`tist), a. Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as, absolutist principles.
Absolutistic
(Ab`so*lu*tis"tic) a. Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist.
Absolutory
(Ab*sol"u*to*ry) a. [L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve.] Serving to absolve; absolving.
"An absolutory sentence." Ayliffe.
Absolvable
(Ab*solv"a*ble) a. That may be absolved.
Absolvatory
(Ab*solv"a*to*ry) a. Conferring absolution; absolutory.
Absolve
(Ab*solve") 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.
Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen.
Macaulay.
2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); — said of the sin or guilt.
In his name I absolve your perjury.
Gibbon.
3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.]
The work begun, how soon absolved.
Milton.
4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] "We shall not absolve the doubt." Sir T. Browne.
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.
Absolvent
(Ab*solv"ent) a. [L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere.] Absolving. [R.] Carlyle.
Absolvent
(Ab*solv"ent), n. An absolver. [R.] Hobbes.
Absolver
(Ab*solv"er) n. One who absolves. Macaulay.
