absolve

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absolve from guilt

To consider innocent, clear of all suspicion, or pardon from any cause of guilt. The knights of the crusades committed many atrocities in their campaign, but they were absolved from guilt by the heads of the church.

absolved from guilt

Considered innocent, cleared of all suspicion, or pardoned from any cause of guilt. The knights of the crusades committed many atrocities in their campaign, but they were regarded as absolved from guilt because of their religious patronage.

absolve (one) from

To declare that someone is free from blame or responsibility for something. The evidence that the defense attorney presented in court convinced the jury to absolve his client from the crime. I know you're sorry. I absolve you from your guilt, son.

absolve (one) of

To declare that someone is free from blame or responsibility for something. Once Betty saw the security footage of a different employee stealing money from the cash register, she absolved Jacob of the crime. I know you're sorry. I absolve you of your guilt, son.

absolve someone from something

and absolve someone of something

to prove that an accused person is innocent of something; to demonstrate that someone is not responsible for something. Bob attempted to absolve himself of the crime.

See also: absolve

References in periodicals archive ?

Costa Ricans who undergo sterilization must sign an authorization that absolves doctors and health institutions from any responsibility (Zenit Daily News).

Sterilization attacks the poor

Specifically, the letter denounced the Accurate Accounting Standards Certification Act of 1997 (S 1560), which essentially absolves banks from any FASB statement on derivatives in many circumstances.

Derivatives: time to take sides

In my opinion that absolves the President as far as this operation is concerned," he added.

Trillanes: Marwan death 'absolves' Aquino

No-kill advocacy can also be counterproductive because it absolves the public of responsibility.

SHELTERS ARE SYMPTOM, NOT CAUSE, OF PET PROBLEM

Gladwell gives those "dominant forces" credit for being an alternative to the battleground, but he apparently absolves them of blame for creating the war zone in the first place.

The Secret History of Television: corporate power, patent law, and lone inventors. (Culture & Reviews)

In the report the OCT, made up of Lanarkshire Health Board and North Lanarkshire Council officials, absolves itself of any blame for delays in investigating the outbreak in November 1996.

E coli `cover-up' claim

In ruling on the petition, the CA invalidated the second panel as well as its finding of probable cause against the Reyes brothers and reinstated the findings of the first panel created also by the DOJ chief which absolves them of criminal liability.

Ortega lawyer: CA ruling does not clear ex-Palawan governor of murder

Also in the Watergate room, after you hear the ``smoking gun'' tape - in which Nixon encourages an aide to have the CIA tell the FBI to back off its investigation for national security reasons - a commentary quickly notes that Nixon called off the dogs two weeks later (as if that absolves him of wrongdoing).

HIS LIBRARY, HIS HISTORY

But that in no way absolves religion from the evils that it has perpetuated over time.

POLITICS THRIVES ON AN ORGANIZED NETWORK, TOO

But Marks absolves them of all original sin - all their faults are invariably the result of contacts with whites.

NO WAY TO RIGHT A HISTORICAL WRONG; `IN A BARREN LAND' TRIES TO RECORD INDIAN SIDE OF RESETTLEMENT BY BLAMING WHITES FOR EVERY EVIL