Resolve

v. t. [imp. & p. p. RESOLVED; p. pr. & vb. n. RESOLVING.] [Lat. resolvere, resolutum, fr. re, again, and solvere, to loosen, dissolve; It. resolvere, risolvere, Sp. resolver, Fr. résoudre, O. Fr. resoldre.]

1Sense 1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; — said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt.

O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew. Shak.

Ye immortal souls, who once were men, And now resolved to elements again. Dryden.

2Sense 2. To dissolve and reduce to a different form; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole.

3Sense 3. 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; as, to resolve a riddle.

To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile. Milton.

4Sense 4. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure.

Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. Beau. & Fl.

Resolve me, Reason, which of these are worse, Want with a full or with an empty purse? Pope.

In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled by any region. Raleigh.

We must be resolved how the law can be pure and perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over these Eleusinian mysteries. Milton.

5Sense 5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution and vote; as, it was resolved by the legislature.

6Sense 6. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating in order the several things to be done, to obtain what is required; to find the answer to, or the result of. Hutton.

7Sense 7. (Med.) To disperse or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumor.

8Sense 8. (Mus.) To let the tones, as of a discord, follow their several tendencies, resulting in a concord.

To resolve a nebula (Astron.), to cause it to appear separated into distinct stars.

Synonyms— To solve; analyze; explain; unravel; disentangle.

v. i. 1. To be separated into its component parts, or distinct principles.

2Sense 2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid.

When the blood stagnates in any part, it first coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline. Arbuthnot.

3Sense 3. To be settled in opinion; to be convinced. [R.]

Let men resolve of that as they please. Locke.

4Sense 4. To form a resolution or purpose; to determine.

It moves God first to jealousy, then to anger, and that makes him a resolved enemy. Bp. Taylor.

Synonyms—To determine; decide; conclude; purpose.