vbl. sb. Obs. [f. ASSOIL v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of absolving, absolution.
c. 1380. Wyclif, De Eccl., iii. Sel. Wks. 1871, III. 345. Many heresies, as of assoilingis and indulgencis, and cursingis, wiþ feyned pardons.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. V. 415. Monkes myȝte use þe offys of assoillynge [L. absolvendi].
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 317. The publike assoyling of penitents.
2. The resolving of a difficulty, solution.
1619. Favour, Antiquitie, 72. For the triall of all controversies, and assoyling all doubts.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 209. For the assoilling of which Difficulty (seeming so formidable at first sight).
3. The refutation or answering of an objection.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. viii. 8. The soilingis [v.r. asoilyngis] of argumentis.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. xi. 208. For answere and assoiling to the firste argument.
a. 1679. T. Goodwin, Wks. (1863), VII. 406. Assoiling or answer to one of the greatest difficulties or objections.
