absolution
(æbsəˈljuːʃən)
Also 3 absoluciun, 3–6 -cion, 4–5 -cioun, -coun, -tioun, 5 -tyoun, 5–6 -cyon, -tyon, 6– -tion.
[a. Fr. absolution, ad. L. absolūtiōn-em n. of action, f. absolv-ere to absolve. In its ecclesiastical sense, in early popular use in Fr. and Eng.]
1. gen. An absolving, discharging, or formal setting free (from guilt, sentence, or obligation); remission (of sin or penance).
| c 1400 Apol. for Lollards 19 Schakyng a wey synne from him be absolucoun of sacrament, and mekly taking a noþer absolucoun of iurisdiccoun of him þat cursid. 1447 Lyvys of Seyntys (1835) 49 Whan thou hast get an absolucyon Of this curs and hast fecundyte. 1538 Starkey England 124 Hys powar..extendyth only to the absolutyon of syn. 1638 Knolles Hist. Turkes (ed. 5) 50 He..procured of the bishops a general absolution for them all, from the oath of obedience which they had before giuen unto the Emperor. c 1850 Faber Hymn ‘Sweet Saviour bless us,’ Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways True absolution and release. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xiv. 155 He..applied for a bull of absolution from the oaths so lately taken. |
2. spec. Remission or forgiveness of sins declared by ecclesiastical authority. (The earliest use.)
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 95 Shereðuresdaies absolucion þe liðe þe sinne bendes. Ibid. 99 Cumen..a palm sunedai to procession, a shereðursdai to absoluciun, a lange-fridai to holi cruche. a 1384 Wyclif Antecrist and his Meynee 153 False absoluciouns bouȝt at þe court of Roome. c 1400 Rom. Rose 7700 Kneele doune anon, And you shal have absolucioun. a 1520 Myrroure of Our Lady 39 Trew shryfte of mouthe with absolucion folowyng lyghtyth moche a soulle. 1558 Bp. Watson Seven Sacr. xxx. 192 Fyrst to confesse hym selfe and receyue the Sacrament of Absolution. 1638 Penit. Conf. (1657) vii. 128 Without Confession to a Priest no absolution. 1704 Nelson Festiv. & Fasts (1739) ii. iv. 494 The Priest..with a loud voice did proclaim publick Absolution. 1809 Brydone Sicily xxxiv. 330 This is the first mortal sin, for which there is neither atonement nor absolution, ‘to lie with a nun, and yet not be in orders.’ 1851 Longfellow Gol. Leg. vi. i. After confession, after absolution, When my whole soul was white I prayed for them. 1852 F. W. Robertson Serm. (Ser. iv. 1863) xxxvii. 281 Absolution is the authoritative declaration of forgiveness. |
b. The formula declaring sins to be remitted.
| a 1520 Myrroure of Our Ladye 101 After Pater Noster foloweth an Absolucyon, that is as moche to say as a losynge fro or a fredome. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 90 But a Deacon cannot consecrate the Sacrament, pronounce absolution nor benediction. 1662 Bk. of Comm. Prayer (Rubric) The Absolution or Remission of Sins, To be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing. |
3. Remission of penance or other ecclesiastical sentence.
| a 1674 Clarendon's Hist. Rebel. I. ii. 86 To restrain any Excommunication from being pronounced, or Absolution from being given, without the approbation of the Bishop. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 18 The word Absolution..in the Canon-Law, and among Divines, is not only used to denote an Acquittal or Discharge of a man..but it likewise signifies a Relaxation of him from the obligation of some sentence pronounced either in a Court of Law, or else in Foro Pœnitentiali. And thus there is in this Law one kind of Absolution, which is term'd Judicial; and another, which is styled a Declaratory or Extra-Judicial Absolution. |
4. Forgiveness of offences generally.
| 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 215 Þou may fulle lightly haf absolutioun, For it was a gilery, þou knew not þer tresoun. c 1340 Gawayne & Gr. Knt. 1882 And of absolucioun he on þe segge calles. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 372 Touchende my confession, I axe an absolution Of Genius, er that I go. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. (1520) v. 59/2 Then themperour meked hymselfe and fell downe to the grounde and asked mercy and absolucyon. 1612 Dekker Diuell is in it Wks. 1873 III. 282 I absolution beg on both my knees, For what my tongue offended in. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. 276 The government, while granting absolution to the nation, determined to make some exceptions. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 92 In the hope that an absolution after the fact might be won. |
† 5. Rom. Law. A legal acquittal, a declaration of not guilty. Obs.
| c 1600 B. Holyday Juv. 244 In one [waxen table] being written the letter A, to signifie the acquittal or absolution of the defendant. 1631 Preston Effect. Faith 79 The sentence of absolution was given by white stones, as the sentence of condemnation was by black stones. 1651 Hobbes Leviathan ii. xix. 97 Condemnation, than absolution more resembles Justice. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 18 The word Absolution..in the Civil Law imports a full and entire acquittal of a person by some final Sentence of Law, upon hearing the Merits of a Cause. 1741 Middleton Cicero (ed. 3) II. vi. 120 It was all charged to the absolution of Gabinius after his daring violation of religion. 1875 Poste Gaius iv. §114. 590 The grounds effectual for the absolution of the defendant. |
† 6. Dismissal, getting quit of. Obs. rare.
| 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. xi. x. §8 (1845) VI. 315 But grant it true, not a total absolution, but a reformation thereof [of the liturgy] may hence be inferred. |
† 7. The act of delivering words; delivery. Obs.
| a 1637 B. Jonson Discoveries Wks. 1846, 759 Some language is high and great..the composition full, the absolution plenteous, and poured out, all grave, sinewy, and strong. |