Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ABSOLVE

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connect today's word to others: I've shared this thought before, and it's worth sharing again, from Lewis B. Smedes: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." In other words, when you absolve someone, you also absolve yourself. Everyone is free. Absolve looks so much like solve, dissolve, and resolve because they're all based on the Latin solvere, "to loosen, or to release." Imagine your sin, your mistake, or your wrongdoing coming loose from your soul and floating away. That image seems a little woo-woo, spiritual, or religious, right? Absolve does have a religious flavor to it. So do hegira, immaculate, and messianic--could you define all three? make your point with... "ABSOLVE" This word has Latin roots that literally mean "to loosen away from" or "to release from." To absolve people is to excuse or forgive them, or to set them free from blame, guilt, or wrongdoing (or from a duty, obligation, or responsibility). And, to absolve sins, crimes, or errors also means to forgive them. Pronunciation: ub ZOLV Part of speech: Verb, usually the transitive kind: "he absolved her," "they absolved him," "we absolved ourselves of it." Other forms: absolved, absolving; absolver(s); absolvement or absolution; absolutory or absolvent How to use it: Because this word is often used to talk about sins, priests, and churches, as well as laws, criminals, and courts, it has a heavy, serious tone. (But you can still use it to talk about all kinds of things outside the church or the courtroom.) Talk about people absolving other people (or groups of people). Often we say people are absolved of some crime, error, or responsibility, or that people are absolved from doing something. Less commonly, you can say that things, statements, or actions absolve people. You can also absolve yourself: "he absolved himself of all responsibility for this mess." And, because our society is fixated on placing blame and assigning responsibility, we often talk about what doesn't absolve people: "this gesture can't absolve the university of its discriminatory practices," "that apology won't absolve him from accepting the consequences of his crime." examples: The report, neutral in its wording and transparent in its methods and findings, absolves the company of bias. "...Researchers’ good intentions can’t absolve their work of its capacity to do harm in practice."    —Alex Barasch, The Washington Post, 27 June 2018 study it now: Look away from the screen to define "absolve" without saying "excuse" or "grant forgiveness." try it out: Fill in the blank: "History will not grant absolution to those who _____." Example: "History will not grant absolution to those who knew better but still ravaged the environment." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Apt Adjective Anagrams!  I'll invent a person's name and a brief description of that person, and you unscramble the letters in the name to form an adjective that aptly describes the person or the person's situation. For example, if I say "Naomi Cirous is still holding a grudge," then you rearrange the letters in "Naomi Cirous" to form the adjective "acrimonious," meaning "sharp, bitter, and mean"--an appropriate adjective for someone holding a grudge. From the previous issue: Traci Atloid micromanages all her employees. It's her way or the highway. Answer: She's dictatorial. Try this today: Lilian Tulip is dainty in the extreme. review today's word: 1. A close opposite of ABSOLVE OF is A. JOKE WITH. B. CHARGE WITH. C. THREATEN WITH. 2. They _____; clearly, he remains unabsolved in their eyes. A. glared at him, then turned away in silence B. smiled at him, then embraced him warmly C. shook his hand, then gestured for him to sit Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. A