*solve*

a. [ L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere. ] Absolving. [ R. ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An absolver. [ R. ] Hobbes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who absolves. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dissolved p. pr. & vb. n. Dissolving. ] [ L. dissolvere, dissolutum; dis- + solvere to loose, free. See Solve, and cf. Dissolute. ] 1. To separate into competent parts; to disorganize; to break up; hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing can dissolve us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. The Declaration of Independence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc., ; to melt; to liquefy; to soften. [ 1913 Webster ]

As if the world were all dissolved to tears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. “Dissolved the mystery.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Dan. v. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.

Syn. -- See Adjourn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied. [ 1913 Webster ]

A figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power. [ 1913 Webster ]

The charm dissolves apace. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. changed from a solid to a liquid state by increase of temperature; melted. Opposite of unmelted.
Syn. -- liquefied, liquified, melted. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. sundered by divorce, separation, or desertion; -- of social bonds and relations. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. diffused into a liquid of differing chemical composition, forming a stable solution; -- said of chemical substances. [ PJC ]

n. 1. That which has the power of dissolving or melting other substances, esp. by mixture with them; a menstruum; a solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Melted in the crucible dissolvents. A. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

The secret treaty of December acted as an immediate dissolvent to the truce. Mothley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A remedy supposed capable of dissolving concretions in the body, such as calculi, tubercles, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. dissolvens, -entis, p. pr. of dissolvere. ] Having power to dissolve power to dissolve a solid body; as, the dissolvent juices of the stomach. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, has power to dissolve or dissipate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou kind dissolver of encroaching care. Otway. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Insolvencies (Law) (a) The condition of being insolvent; the state or condition of a person who is insolvent; the condition of one who is unable to pay his debts as they fall due, or in the usual course of trade and business; as, a merchant's insolvency. (b) Insufficiency to discharge all debts of the owner; as, the insolvency of an estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Act of insolvency. See Insolvent law under Insolvent, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + solvent: cf. OF. insolvent. ] (Law) (a) Not solvent; not having sufficient estate to pay one's debts; unable to pay one's debts as they fall due, in the ordinary course of trade and business; as, in insolvent debtor. (b) Not sufficient to pay all the debts of the owner; as, an insolvent estate. (c) Relating to persons unable to pay their debts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Insolvent law, or
Act of insolvency, a law affording relief, -- subject to various modifications in different States, -- to insolvent debtors, upon their delivering up their property for the benefit of their creditors; bankruptcy law. See Bankrupt law, under Bankrupt, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) One who is insolvent; as insolvent debtor; -- in England, before 1861, especially applied to persons not traders. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without settled determination; in a hesitating manner; doubtfully. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inability to pay debts; insolvency. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not solvent; insolvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An insolvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. persolvere. ] To pay wholly, or fully. [ Obs. ] E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Preresolved p. pr. & vb. n. Preresolving. ] To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To dissolve again. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To resolve again. [ 1913 Webster ]

Resolves, and re-resolves, then dies the same. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Resolved 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye immortal souls, who once were men,
And now resolved to elements again. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse,
Want with a full, or with an empty purse? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled by any region. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must be resolved how the law can be pure and perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over these Eleusinian mysteries. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle; as, he was resolved by an unexpected event. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution and vote; to declare or decide by a formal vote; -- followed by a clause; as, the house resolved (or, it was resolved by the house) that no money should be apropriated (or, to appropriate no money). [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To change or convert by resolution or formal vote; -- used only reflexively; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating the several things to be done, in order to obtain what is required; to find the answer to, or the result of. Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Med.) To dispere or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumor. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Mus.) To let the tones (as of a discord) follow their several tendencies, resulting in a concord. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. To relax; to lay at ease. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

To resolve a nebula.(Astron.) See Resolution of a nebula, under Resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ The sense “to be convinced, to determine” comes from the idea of loosening, breaking up into parts, analyzing, hence, determining. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To be separated into its component parts or distinct principles; to undergo resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the blood stagnates in any part, it first coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline. Arbuthhnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be settled in opinion; to be convinced. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Let men resolve of that as they plaease. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To form a purpose; to make a decision; especially, to determine after reflection; as, to resolve on a better course of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To determine; decide; conclude; purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of resolving or making clear; resolution; solution. “To give a full resolve of that which is so much controverted.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which has been resolved on or determined; decisive conclusion; fixed purpose; determination; also, legal or official determination; a legislative declaration; a resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor is your firm resolve unknown. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Caesar's approach has summoned us together,
And Rome attends her fate from our resolves. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. Having a fixed purpose; determined; resolute; -- usually placed after its noun; as, a man resolved to be rich. [ 1913 Webster ]

That makes him a resolved enemy. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am resolved she shall not settle here. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. So as to resolve or clear up difficulties; clearly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of that, and all the progress, more or less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resolutely; decidedly; firmly. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Fixedness of purpose; firmness; resolution. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having power to resolve; causing solution; solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. resolvens, p. pr. of resolvere: cf. F. résolvant. See Resolve. ] 1. That which has the power of resolving, or causing solution; a solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) That which has power to disperse inflammatory or other tumors; a discutient; anything which aids the absorption of effused products. Coxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Math.) An equation upon whose solution the solution of a given pproblem depends. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which decomposes, or dissolves. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which clears up and removes difficulties, and makes the mind certain or determined. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who resolves, or formal a firm purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Solved 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

True piety would effectually solve such scruples. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

God shall solve the dark decrees of fate. Tickell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To explain; resolve; unfold; clear up. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A solution; an explanation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Solvent. ] The quality or state of being solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. solvendus to be loosened or dissolved, fr. solvere. See Solution. ] A substance to be dissolved. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. solvens, p. pr. of solvere. See Solvable. ] 1. Having the power of dissolving; dissolving; as, a solvent fluid. “The solvent body.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Able or sufficient to pay all just debts; as, a solvent merchant; the estate is solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which resolves; as, a solvent of mystery. [ 1913 Webster ]