Where does “absolve” come from?

Absolve comes from Middle English absolven, from Latin absolvere, composed of Latin ab (away) and Latin solvere (to loosen), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂epó (away).

absolve (English): To set free, release or discharge; To resolve; to...

Definitions

  1. To set free, release or discharge; To resolve; to...

Ancestry of “absolve”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishabsolven—
2Latinabsolverethird-person plural perfect active indicative of...
3Latinsolvoto loosen, untie, undo; free [up], release, acquit, exempt
4Latinsē-apart-; aside-; away
5Latinsexsix; 6
6Proto-Italicsekssix
7Proto-Indo-Europeanswéḱssix

Words derived from “absolve”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European swéḱs →