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   resolve

   /rɪˈzɒlv/

   verb

   • 1. settle or find a solution to (a problem or contentious matter): "the firm aims to resolve problems within 30 days" Similar settlesort outsolvefind a solution tofind an answer tofixwork outstraighten outdeal withput rightset rightput to rightsrectifyiron outreconcileanswerexplainfathomunraveldisentangleclarifyclear upthrow light oninformal:sew uphammer outthrash outpatch upcrackfigure out
   • ▪ cause (a symptom or condition) to heal or subside: "endoscopic biliary drainage can rapidly resolve jaundice"
   • ▪ (of a symptom or condition) heal or subside: "symptoms resolved after a median of four weeks"
   • ▪ (with reference to a discord) pass or cause to pass into a concord during the course of harmonic change: "dissonant notes resolve conventionally by rising or falling to form part of a new chord"
   • 2. decide firmly on a course of action: "she resolved to ring Dana as soon as she got home" Similar determinedecidemake up one's mindtake a decisionreach a decisionconcludecome to the conclusionsettle on a plan of action
   • ▪ (of a legislative body or other formal meeting) make a decision by a formal vote: "the executive resolved that a strike would be detrimental to all concerned" Similar votepass a resolutionrulemovedecide formallyagreeundertake
   • 3. separate or cause to be separated into constituent parts or components: "alpha-zein is often resolved into two major size components" Similar break downbreak upseparatereducedecomposedividedisintegratedissolveOpposite combine
   • ▪ reduce a subject, statement, etc. by mental analysis into (separate elements or a more elementary form): "the ability to resolve facts into their legal categories" Similar analysedissectbreak downanatomize
   • ▪ analyse (a force or velocity) into components acting in particular directions.
   • 4. (of something seen at a distance) turn into a different form when seen more clearly: "the orange light resolved itself into four roadwork lanterns" Similar turn intobe transformed intobecome clearly visible aschange intometamorphose intobe transmuted into
   • ▪ (of optical or photographic equipment) separate or distinguish between (closely adjacent objects): "Hubble was able to resolve six variable stars in M31"
   • ▪ separately distinguish (peaks in a graph or spectrum).

   noun

   • 1. firm determination to do something: "she received information that strengthened her resolve" Similar determinationresolutionfirmness of purposefixity of purposepurposepurposefulnessresolutenesssingle-mindednessstrength of willstrength of characterwill powerfirmnessintentnessdecisiondecidednesssteadfastnessstaunchnessmanfulnessperseverancepersistenceindefatigabilitytenacitytenaciousnessstaying powerstrong-mindednessbackbonededicationcommitmentconstancythe bulldog spiritpertinacitypertinaciousnessstubbornnessdoggednessobstinacyobduratenessobduracyinflexibilityspiritednessbravenessbraveryboldnesscouragecourageousnesspluckpluckinessstout-heartednessSitzfleischinformal:gutsspunkgritstickabilitystick-to-it-ivenessarchaic:intensionrare:perseverationdecisionresolutioncommitmentintentionconclusionOpposite indecision
   • 2. a formal resolution by a legislative body or public meeting. US

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the senses ‘dissolve, disintegrate’ and ‘solve (a problem)’): from Latin resolvere, from re- (expressing intensive force) + solvere ‘loosen’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. resolvability noun
   • 2. resolvable adjective
   • 3. resolver noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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