English
absolution
Absolution comes from Latin absolūtiō ‘acquittal’, from absolvō ‘absolve’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- ‘to cut off, release’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewh₁-‘to cut off, release’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*luh₁étireconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEluō‘to let go, set free’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsolvō‘to release, to loosen, to dissolve, to take apart’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabsolvō‘absolve’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabsolūtiō‘acquittal’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabsolūtiōnemaccusative singular of absolūtiō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400absolution
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500absolucion
- Englishearliest quotation 1641absolution
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewh₁-‘to cut off, release’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*luh₁étireconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEluō‘to let go, set free’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsolvō‘to release, to loosen, to dissolve, to take apart’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabsolvō‘absolve’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabsolūtiō‘acquittal’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabsolūtiōnemaccusative singular of absolūtiō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400absolution
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500absolucion
- Englishearliest quotation 1641absolution
Earliest quotation: 1641, Ben Jonson: “the words are chosen , their sound ample ,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- ‘to cut off, release’
lose, analysis, lease, analyst, paralysis, dialysis, palsy, paralyze, lysis, insoluble, paralytic, loess, 26 more
through Latin luō ‘to let go, set free’
through Latin solvō ‘to release, to loosen, to dissolve, to take…’
so, solve, resolution, sol, soluble, dissolution, resolute, 9 more
Today it means
noun An absolving of sins from ecclesiastical penalties by an authority.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- / absolution