resolve

resolve
    n 1: the trait of being resolute; "his resoluteness carried him
         through the battle"; "it was his unshakeable resolution to
         finish the work" [syn: {resoluteness}, {firmness},
         {firmness of purpose}, {resolve}, {resolution}] [ant:
         {irresoluteness}, {irresolution}]
    2: a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote [syn:
       {resolution}, {declaration}, {resolve}]
    v 1: bring to an end; settle conclusively; "The case was
         decided"; "The judge decided the case in favor of the
         plaintiff"; "The father adjudicated when the sons were
         quarreling over their inheritance" [syn: {decide},
         {settle}, {resolve}, {adjudicate}]
    2: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation [syn:
       {conclude}, {resolve}]
    3: reach a decision; "he resolved never to drink again" [syn:
       {purpose}, {resolve}]
    4: understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the
       meaning of life cannot be answered" [syn: {answer},
       {resolve}]
    5: make clearly visible; "can this image be resolved?"
    6: find the solution; "solve an equation"; "solve for x" [syn:
       {resolve}, {solve}]
    7: cause to go into a solution; "The recipe says that we should
       dissolve a cup of sugar in two cups of water" [syn:
       {dissolve}, {resolve}, {break up}]
    

Resolve \Re*solve"\ (r?-z?lv"), v. i. [The sense "to be
   convinced, to determine" comes from the idea of loosening,
   breaking up into parts, analyzing, hence, determining.]
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   1. To be separated into its component parts or distinct
      principles; to undergo resolution.
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   2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid.
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            When the blood stagnates in any part, it first
            coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline.
                                                  --Arbuthhnot.
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   3. To be settled in opinion; to be convinced. [R.]
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            Let men resolve of that as they plaease. --Locke.
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   4. To form a purpose; to make a decision; especially, to
      determine after reflection; as, to resolve on a better
      course of life.
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   Syn: To determine; decide; conclude; purpose.
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Resolve \Re*solve"\ (r?*z?lv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Resolved}
   (-z?lvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Resolving}.] [L. resolvere,
   resolutum, to untie, loosen, relax, enfeeble; pref. re- re- +
   solvere to loosen, dissolve: cf. F. r['e]soudare to resolve.
   See {Solve}, and cf. {Resolve}, v. i., {Resolute},
   {Resolution}.]
   1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the
      constituent elements; -- said of compound substances;
      hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve.
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            O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,
            Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!  --Shak.
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            Ye immortal souls, who once were men,
            And now resolved to elements again.   --Dryden.
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   2. To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; -- said of
      complex ideas or obscure questions; to make clear or
      certain; to free from doubt; to disentangle; to unravel;
      to explain; hence, to clear up, or dispel, as doubt; as,
      to resolve a riddle. "Resolve my doubt." --Shak.
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            To the resolving whereof we must first know that the
            Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving
            Gentile.                              --Milton.
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   3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to
      inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain.
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            Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. --Beau. &
                                                  Fl.
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            Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse,
            Want with a full, or with an empty purse? --Pope.
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            In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved
            it can not be equaled by any region.  --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.
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            We must be resolved how the law can be pure and
            perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over
            these Eleusinian mysteries.           --Milton.
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   4. To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind;
      to fix; to settle; as, he was resolved by an unexpected
      event.
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   5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution
      and vote; to declare or decide by a formal vote; --
      followed by a clause; as, the house resolved (or, it was
      resolved by the house) that no money should be apropriated
      (or, to appropriate no money).
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   6. To change or convert by resolution or formal vote; -- used
      only reflexively; as, the house resolved itself into a
      committee of the whole.
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   7. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating the several
      things to be done, in order to obtain what is required; to
      find the answer to, or the result of. --Hutton.
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   8. (Med.) To dispere or scatter; to discuss, as an
      inflammation or a tumor.
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   9. (Mus.) To let the tones (as of a discord) follow their
      several tendencies, resulting in a concord.
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   10. To relax; to lay at ease. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
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   {To resolve a nebula}.(Astron.) See {Resolution of a nebula},
      under {Resolution}.
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   Syn: To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle.
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Resolve \Re*solve"\, n.
   1. The act of resolving or making clear; resolution;
      solution. "To give a full resolve of that which is so much
      controverted." --Milton.
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   2. That which has been resolved on or determined; decisive
      conclusion; fixed purpose; determination; also, legal or
      official determination; a legislative declaration; a
      resolution.
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            Nor is your firm resolve unknown.     --Shak.
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            Caesar's approach has summoned us together,
            And Rome attends her fate from our resolves.
                                                  --Addison.
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221 Moby Thesaurus words for "resolve":
      abort, accommodate, adjust, adopt, agree, aim, aim at, alter into,
      ambition, analyze, anatomize, animus, answer, approve,
      arrange matters, ascertain, aspiration, aspire after, aspire to,
      assay, be after, be converted into, be determined, become,
      block out, bottom, break, break down, break up, breakdown,
      bring to terms, bring together, cease, change into, choose,
      choose to, clear up, close, command, commitment, compose,
      compromise, conclude, counsel, crack, debug, decide, decidedness,
      decipher, decision, decisiveness, decode, decompose, decree,
      dedication, definiteness, desideration, desideratum, design,
      desire, destine, detail, determinateness, determination, determine,
      determinedness, devotion, disabuse, disentangle, dispel, disperse,
      dissect, dissipate, dissolve, divide, divine, do, dope, dope out,
      drive at, earnestness, effect, end, endeavor, enumerate, explain,
      fathom, figure, figure out, find, find out, find the answer,
      find the solution, finish, finish up, firmness, fix, fix up,
      fixed purpose, function, get, get right, go for, guess,
      guess right, harbor a design, harmonize, have every intention,
      have it, heal the breach, hit it, idea, intend, intendment, intent,
      intention, interpret, itemize, labor, make a decision, make out,
      mean, meaning, mediate, mind, motive, nisus, number, obstinacy,
      open the lock, outline, parse, pass, patch things up, perorate,
      perseverance, persistence, plan, plumb, point, project, proposal,
      propose, prospectus, psych, psych out, purge, purport, purpose,
      purposefulness, put in tune, puzzle out, ravel, ravel out,
      reconcile, reduce, reduce to, reduce to elements, relentlessness,
      resoluteness, resolution, resolve into, resolvedness,
      restore harmony, reunite, rid, riddle, rule, sake, scan,
      schematize, scrap, scratch, seal, see fit, seek, segment,
      self-will, separate, seriousness, settle, settle differences,
      sincerity, single-mindedness, smooth it over, solve, sort out,
      stop, strain, strive, striving, struggle, study, subdivide, sweat,
      sweat blood, take a resolution, tenacity, terminate, think,
      think fit, think good, think proper, total commitment, undertake,
      undo, unfold, unlock, unravel, unriddle, unscramble, untangle,
      untwist, unweave, view, weave peace between, will, wind up, wish,
      work, work out