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. Fale 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. Longf., 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.
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. 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.
