Solve v.

Also 5 solvyn, 6–7 solue. [ad. L. solvĕre to loosen, dissolve. So Sp. and Pg. solver, It. solvere.]

  † 1.  trans. To loosen; to break. Obs.

c. 1440.  Alph. Tales, 254. And on þis maner þai war wunt … for to solve þer faste.

c. 1450.  Lydg., Secrees, 1259. Afftir the sesouns Solve flewm brennyng or moysture.

  † 2.  a. To unbind, untie. Obs.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 464/1. Solvyn, supra in onbyyndyn.

c. 1460.  Ibid. (Winch.), 322. Onbyyndyn, or solvyn, soluo.

1616.  Bullokar, Eng. Exp., Solue, to vntie.

1658.  Phillips, Solve, to loosen, or undo.

  † b.  To absolve. Obs.^–1

1550.  Bale, Image Both Ch., II. xiii. e iij. Without y^e blynd bussynges of a papiste, may no synne be solued.

  3.  To explain, clear up, resolve, answer.

a. 1533.  Frith, Disput. Purgat. (1829), 122. The second cause … is not solved of Rastell; but I had solved it before.

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., M j. In the fyrste partycle is moued & solued certayne questyons.

1624.  Gataker, Transubst., 69. Soluing all Obiections gathered out of their obscurer sayings against Catholicke doctrine.

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 573. That Theban Monster that propos’d Her riddle, and him, who solv’d it not, devour’d.

1726.  Swift, Gulliver, III. ii. 19. But he was then deep in a Problem, and we attended at least an Hour, before he could solve it.

1777.  Priestley, Matt. & Spir. (1782), I. xxii. 284. This writer … suggests another method of solving this difficulty.

1841.  Borrow, Zincali, III. ii. II. 119. The following consideration will help to solve this point.

1885.  F. Temple, Relat. Relig. & Sci., v. 147. It leaves questions to be solved some of which have not been solved yet.

  refl.  1855.  Kingsley, Lett. (1878), I. 455. The problem of life … solves itself so very soon at best by death.

  † b.  = SALVE v.² 1. Obs.

1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. He hath coyned 72 Homocentrickes, to solue all app[e]arances.

1757.  Mrs. Griffith, Lett. Henry & Frances (1766), I. 200. On account of solving appearances to her nicety.

  c.  Math. To find the answer or solution to (a problem, etc.); to work out.

1737.  Gentl. Mag., VII. 675. There must be found one Condition more to solve the Question, or to reduce it to only one unknown Quantity.

1806.  Hutton, Course Math., I. 247. The general method of solving quadratic equations, is by what is called completing the square.

1828.  Moore, Pract. Navig., 115. How to solve compound courses, or a traverse, has already been shown in Plane Sailing.

1878.  Gurney, Crystallog., 119. Anyone who can solve a spherical triangle will have no difficulty.

  4.  To clear off; to pay or discharge.

1558.  in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), Table 1, The Bookes solved as the Dischardge thereof maye appeare in the saide Booke.

1624.  F. White, Repl. Fisher, 564. Summes of money vpon particular crimes, to be solued to the Publicans of the Ecclesiasticall Roman Tribute, in lieu of Pardons.

1866.  J. B. Rose, trans. Ovid’s Met., 219. Minos returned to his Curetan home, And solved his vows.

1874.  Contemp. Rev., XXIV. 122. Estates in Hertfordshire … were able to pay £17,509 … towards solving the debt.

  5.  To dissolve, put an end to, settle.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 55. Hee … would … solve high dispute With conjugal Caresses.

1701.  Steele, Christian Hero, 91. An Army, whose Swords can make right in Power, and solve controversy in Belief.

a. 1763.  Shenstone, Elegy, xv. 86. These the sounds that chase unholy strife! Solve envy’s charm.

  6.  To dissolve; to melt.

1662.  [see SOLVED].

1794.  G. Adams, Nat. & Exper. Phil., I. x. 399. It will be easily solved in hot water.

1852.  J. Bickford, in Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIII. I. 170. The plant (grass) that takes up the material solved takes up the water also.

1880.  Paper & Printing Trades Jrnl., XXXI. 4. Solve next a small quantity of bichromate of potassa in distilled water.

  fig.  1839–52.  Bailey, Festus, 23. The electric touch solved both our souls together.

  Hence Solved ppl. a.; Solving vbl. sb. and ppl. a.

1662.  J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 309. The solved flowre of Sulphur. Ibid. The solved Body of Sulphur it self.

1706.  Stevens, Span.-Eng. Dict., I. Solución,… the Solving of a Question.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 164. The solvent and solved both concur in producing these effects in the water.

1847.  Emerson, Poems, Threnody. My servant Death, with solving rite, Pours finite into infinite.

1852.  J. Bickford, in Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIII. I. 170. Now, as long as the water is kept in motion it carries its solved substances with it.

1883.  Fleming, Old Violins, 273. Its presence does not injure the solving power of the alcohol.

1895.  Athenæum, 25 May, 665/2. The solving of the vexed questions that beset us.