Part 263

Be it with resolution then to fight.

Shak.

4. That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose; determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly, adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the resolutions of a public meeting.

5. The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought; conviction; assurance. [Obs.]

Little resolution and certainty there is as touching the islands of Mauritania.

Holland.

6. (Math.) The act or process of solving; solution; as, the resolution of an equation or problem.

7. (Med.) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of a fever, a tumor, or the like.

8. (Mus.) The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord by the rising or falling of the note which makes the discord.

Joint resolution. See under Joint, a. -- Resolution of a force or motion (Mech.), the separation of a single force or motion into two or more which have different directions, and, taken together, are an equivalent for the single one; -- the opposite of composition of a force. -- Resolution of a nebula (Astron.), the exhibition of it to the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be composed of small stars.

Syn. -- Decision; analysis; separation; disentanglement; dissolution; resolvedness; resoluteness; firmness; constancy; perseverance; steadfastness; fortitude; boldness; purpose; resolve. See Decision.

Res`o*lu"tion*er (-?r), n. One who makes a resolution; one who joins with others in a declaration or resolution; specifically, one of a party in the Scottish Church in the 17th century.

He was sequestrated afterwards as a Resolutioner.

Sir W. Scott.

Res`o*lu"tion*ist, n. One who makes a resolution.

Res"o*lu`tive (r?z"?-lu`t?v), a. [Cf.F. résolutif.] Serving to dissolve or relax. [R.] Johnson.

Res"o*lu*to*ry (r?z"?-l?-t?-r?), a. Resolutive. [R.]

Re*solv`a*bil"i*ty (r?-z?lv`?-b?l"?-t?), n. The quality or condition of being resolvable; resolvableness.

Re*solv"a*ble (r?-z?lv"?-b'l), a. [See Resolve, and cf. Resoluble.] Admitting of being resolved; admitting separation into constituent parts, or reduction to first principles; admitting solution or explanation; as, resolvable compounds; resolvable ideas or difficulties.

Re*solv"a*ble*ness, n. The quality of being resolvable; resolvability.

Re*solve" (r?*z?lv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Resolved (-z?lvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Resolving.] [L. resolvere, resolutum, to untie, loosen, relax, enfeeble; pref. re- re- + solvere to loosen, dissolve: cf. F. résoudare to resolve. See Solve, and cf. Resolve, v. i., Resolute, Resolution.] 1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; -- said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve.

O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!

Shak.

Ye immortal souls, who once were men, And now resolved to elements again.

Dryden.

2. To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; -- said of complex ideas or obscure questions; to make clear or certain; to free from doubt; to disentangle; to unravel; to explain; hence, to clear up, or dispel, as doubt; as, to resolve a riddle. "Resolve my doubt." Shak.

To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile.

Milton.