Part 29

Ab"so*lute*ness, n. The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness.

Ab`so*lu"tion (&?;), n. [F. absolution, L. absolutio, fr. absolvere to absolve. See Absolve.] 1. An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. "Government . . . granting absolution to the nation." Froude.

2. (Civil Law) An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused person innocent. [Obs.]

3. (R. C. Ch.) The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.

In the English and other Protestant churches, this act regarded as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness.

4. (Eccl.) An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, -- for example, excommunication. P. Cyc.

5. The form of words by which a penitent is absolved. Shipley.

6. Delivery, in speech. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Absolution day (R. C. Ch.), Tuesday before Easter.

Ab"so*lu`tism (&?;), n. 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.

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.

Ab"so*lu`tist, a. Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as, absolutist principles.

Ab`so*lu*tis"tic (&?;), a. Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist.

Ab*sol"u*to*ry (&?;), a. [L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve.] Serving to absolve; absolving. "An absolutory sentence." Ayliffe.

Ab*solv"a*ble (&?;), a. That may be absolved.

Ab*solv"a*to*ry (&?;), a. Conferring absolution; absolutory.

Ab*solve" (#; 277), 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.

Ab*solv"ent (&?;), a. [L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere.] Absolving. [R.] Carlyle.