Definitions for: Resolve


[n] the trait of being resolute; firmness of purpose; "his resoluteness carried him through the battle"; "it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work"
[n] a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
[v] cause to go into a solution; "The recipe says that we should dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water"
[v] understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"
[v] bring to an end; settle conclusively, as of a conflict; "The case was decided"; "The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff"; "The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance"
[v] reach a decision; "he resolved never to drink again"
[v] find the solution to; "solve an equation"
[v] reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation
[v] make clearly visible, as of images in optics



Webster (1913) Definition: 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. r['e]soudare 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.

3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to
inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain.

Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. --Beau. &
Fl.

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

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

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

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

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).

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

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.

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

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

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

To resolve a nebula.(Astron.) See Resolution of a nebula,
under Resolution.

Syn: To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle.


Re*solve" (r?-z?lv"), v. i. [The sense ``to be
convinced, to determine'' comes from the idea of loosening,
breaking up into parts, analyzing, hence, determining.]
1. To be separated into its component parts or distinct
principles; to undergo resolution.

2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid.

When the blood stagnates in any part, it first
coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline.
--Arbuthhnot.

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

Let men resolve of that as they plaease. --Locke.

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

Syn: To determine; decide; conclude; purpose.


Re*solve", n.
1. The act of resolving or making clear; resolution;
solution. ``To give a full resolve of that which is so
much controverted.'' --Milton.

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

Nor is your firm resolve unknown. --Shak.

C[ae]sar's approach has summoned us together, And
Rome attends her fate from our resolves. --Addison.

Synonyms: adjudicate, answer, break up, conclude, decide, declaration, dissolve, firmness, purpose, resoluteness, resolution, resolution, settle

Antonyms: irresoluteness, irresolution

See Also: adamance, adjust, agree, bullheadedness, calculate, change integrity, cipher, compute, concord, concur, cut, cypher, decision, decisiveness, Declaration of Independence, determination, determine, determine, discern, distinguish, document, end, factorise, factorize, figure, figure out, hold, joint resolution, judge, lick, make out, make up one's mind, melt, melt down, obduracy, obstinacy, obstinance, papers, pick out, pigheadedness, purpose, puzzle out, reckon, recognise, recognize, run, self-command, self-control, self-will, settle, single-mindedness, solve, square off, square up, steadfastness, stubbornness, tell apart, terminate, trait, unyieldingness, willpower, work, work out, written document

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