Absolution is the formal forgiveness of sins. Receive absolution, grant absolution, seek absolution.
In Catholic practice it is pronounced by a priest after confession, and the seal that forbids the priest ever to repeat what was said is absolute — it has been upheld against courts. In general use, absolution means being let off blame.
1nounabsolutionThe formal forgiveness of sins.
“He confessed his sins to the priest and received absolution.”
absolution is a forgiveness.
Latin absolutio means an acquittal, from absolvere, to set free — ab plus solvere, to loosen. Absolve is the same verb.
Proto-Indo-European
*lewh₃-
Latin
absolūtiōnem
Old French
absolution
Middle English
absolucion
English, today
absolution
Built from
From Middle English absolucion, absolucioun, from Old French absolution, from Latin absolūtiōnem, accusative singular of absolūtiō (“acquittal”), from absolvō (“absolve”). See also absolve.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA