Word: assoil Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English assoilen (“to absolve or release from blame or sin”), from Anglo-Norman as(s)oiler, as(s)oilier, and Old French as(s)oille [and other forms], the present subjunctive, and as(s)oil, the present indicative, of as(s)oldre, as(s)oudre (“to absolve from blame”) (modern French absoudre), from Latin absoluere, the present active infinitive of absoluō, a variant of absolvō (“to set free from”), from ab- (prefix meaning ‘away from’) + solvō (“to loosen, set free”) (from sē- (“prefix meaning ‘apart; aside; away’”) + luō (“to let go, set free”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewH- (“to cut off, to free”). Doublet of absolve and assoilzie. Pronunciation: /əˈsɔɪl/ 1. To absolve or release (someone) from blame or sin; to forgive, to pardon. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: But ſecretly aſſoyling of his ſin, / No other med'cine vvill he to him lay, / Saying that Heauen his ſiluer him ſhould vvin, / And to giue Friers, vvas better then to pray, / So he vvere ſhrieu'd, vvhat need he care a pin? Example: Pray deuoutly for the ſoule whom God aſſoile of one of the moſt worſhipfull Knights in his daies of manhood and cunning, Richard Beauchampe late Earle of Warwicke, […] [Inscription on the deceased's tomb.] 2. To atone or expiate for (something). Labels: archaic, transitive Example: But Glauce, ſeeing all that chaunced there, / VVell vveeting hovv their errour to aſſoyle, / Full glad of ſo good end, to them drevv nere, / And her ſalevved vvith ſeemly belaccoyle, / Ioyous to ſee her ſafe after long toyle. Example: And theſe reaſons verily induce me to beleeve, that in times paſt they choſe the Bay tree for their triumphs, before any other: rather than as Maſſurius vvould have it, becauſe the Lavvrell ſerved for a ſolemne perfume, to expiate and aſſoile the carnage and execution done upon the enemies. 3. Followed by from or of: to acquit (someone) from a criminal charge; to find (someone) not guilty; to clear. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: For if the mater appere vpon his ſyde therby, either clere or doubtefull, than may the iudges acquite and aſſoyle the defendaũt [defendaunt]. And better were it the faute to be quytte, than the fautles to be punyſhed. Example: Whom Ceſar doth condemne, god ſumtime doeth aſſoyle: and whom the prince doth aſſoyle, he leaueth in the cumpany of mẽ [men], to make other like himſelf: […] 4. Followed by from or of: to release or set free (someone) from a liability, an obligation, etc.; to discharge. Labels: archaic, obsolete, transitive Example: But firſt thou muſt a ſeaſon faſt and pray, / Till from her bands the ſpright aſſoiled is, / And haue her ſtrength recur'd from fraile infirmitis. Example: His vvearie ghoſt aſſoyld from fleſhly band, / Did not as others vvont, directly fly / Vnto her reſt in Plutoes grieſly land, / Ne into ayre did vaniſh preſently, / Ne chaunged vvas into a ſtarre in sky: […] 5. To clear up or resolve (a difficulty, doubt, problem, etc.); to absolve, to solve. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: I ſaie, aſſoyleth this doubt and queſtion, by the only argument and aſſuraunce of the knovven Catholik church of Chriſt. Example: Here M. [Thomas] Harding once againe moueth a very néedeleſſe queſtion. VVe demaunde, ſaithe he, vvhether vvee receiue the ſame Body of Chriſte by Faithe onely, vvithout our Body, or vvith the office of our Body. Any childe might ſoone be hable to aſſoile this reddle. 6. To refute (an argument, an objection, etc.). Labels: obsolete, transitive 7. To discharge (a liability, an obligation, etc.). Labels: obsolete, rare, transitive Example: And ye poore Pilgrimes, that vvith reſtleſſe toyle / VVearie your ſelues in vvandring deſert vvayes, / Till that you come, vvhere ye your vovves aſſoyle, / VVhen paſsing by ye read theſe vvofull layes / On my graue vvritten, […] 8. To get rid of, put off, or remove (something). Labels: obsolete, rare, transitive Example: She ſoundly ſlept, & carefull thoughts did quite aſſoile. 9. To absolve or release (someone) from excommunication or some other religious offence. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: [H]is Barons […] flatly oppoſe themſelues both to his commaund and their Countries good, denying him (vntill he vvere aſſoyled of his excommunication,) their attendance in ſo behouefull a ſeruice.