Part 561

Solve (slv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solved (slvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Solving.] [L. solvere, solutum; from a prefix so- expressing separation (cf. Sober) + luere to loosen; cf. OF. soldre, soudre. See Loose, and cf. Absolve.] To explain; to resolve; to unfold; to clear up (what is obscure or difficult to be understood); to work out to a result or conclusion; as, to solve a doubt; to solve difficulties; to solve a problem.

True piety would effectually solve such scruples.

South.

God shall solve the dark decrees of fate.

Tickell.

Syn. -- To explain; resolve; unfold; clear up.

Solve, n. A solution; an explanation. [Obs.] Shak.

Sol"ven*cy (sl"ven*s), n. [See Solvent.] The quality or state of being solvent.

Sol"vend (sl"vnd), n. [L. solvendus to be loosened or dissolved, fr. solvere. See Solution.] A substance to be dissolved. [R.]

Sol"vent (sl"vent), a. [L. solvens, p. pr. of solvere. See Solvable.] 1. Having the power of dissolving; dissolving; as, a solvent fluid. "The solvent body." Boyle.

2. Able or sufficient to pay all just debts; as, a solvent merchant; the estate is solvent.

Sol"vent, n. (Chem.) A substance (usually liquid) suitable for, or employed in, solution, or in dissolving something; as, water is the appropriate solvent of most salts, alcohol of resins, ether of fats, and mercury or acids of metals, etc.

2. That which resolves; as, a solvent of mystery.

Sol"ver (slv"r), n. One who, or that which, solves.

Solv"i*ble (-*b'l), a. See Solvable.

Sol"y (sl"), adv. Solely. [Obs.] Spenser.

||So"ma (s"m), n. [NL., fr. Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, the body.] (Anat.) The ||whole axial portion of an animal, including the head, neck, trunk, ||and tail. B. G. Wilder.

{ So"maj" (s*mäj"), Sa*maj" (s*mäj") }, n. A society; a congregation, a worshiping assembly, or church, esp. of the Brahmo- somaj. [India]

{ So*ma"li (s*mä"l), So*mal" (s*mäl") }, n. (Ethnol.) A Hamitic people of East Central Africa.

So*mat"ic (s*mt"k), a. [Gr. swmatiko`s, fr. sw^ma the body.] 1. Of or pertaining to the body as a whole; corporeal; as, somatic death; somatic changes.

2. Of or pertaining to the wall of the body; somatopleuric; parietal; as, the somatic stalk of the yolk sac of an embryo.

Somatic death. See the Note under Death, n., 1.

So*mat"ic*al (?), a. Somatic.

So*mat"ics (?), n. The science which treats of the general properties of matter; somatology.

So"ma*tist (?), n. One who admits the existence of material beings only; a materialist. Glanvill.

So"ma*to*cyst (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, body + ky`stis a bladder.] (Zoöl.) A cavity in the primary nectocalyx of certain Siphonophora. See Illust. under Nectocalyx.

So`ma*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, body + -logy.] 1. The doctrine or the science of the general properties of material substances; somatics.

2. A treatise on the human body; anatomy. Dunglison.