assoiling

Verb

assoil (third-person singular simple present assoils, present participle assoiling, simple past and past participle assoiled)

1. (archaic, transitive) To absolve or release (someone) from blame or sin; to forgive, to pardon.
   • 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?1607, Michael Drayton, “The Legend of Great Cromwell”, in Poems: […], London: […] Willi[am] Stansby for Iohn Smethwicke, published 1630, →OCLC, page 461

   Synonyms:

   assoilze

2. (archaic, transitive) To atone or expiate for (something).
   • 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.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 25, page 87
3. (archaic, transitive) Followed by from or of: to acquit (someone) from a criminal charge; to find (someone) not guilty; to clear.
   • 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.1528, Thomas More, “A Dialogue Concernynge Heresyes & Matters of Religion […]. Chapter IIII.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London...

   Synonyms:

   assoilze, exonerate, vindicate, acquittance, assoilzie, acquit, absolve, clear, disculp, disculpate

4. (archaic, obsolete, transitive) Followed by from or of: to release or set free (someone) from a liability, an obligation, etc.; to discharge.
   • 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.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 52, page 150
5. (obsolete, transitive) To clear up or resolve (a difficulty, doubt, problem, etc.); to absolve, to solve.
   • I ſaie, aſſoyleth this doubt and queſtion, by the only argument and aſſuraunce of the knovven Catholik church of Chriſt.1565, Thomas Stapleton, chapter 14, in A Fortresse of the Faith […], Antwerp: […] Ihon Laet, […], →OCLC, folio 65, verso

   Synonyms:

   soil, soyle

6. (obsolete, transitive) To refute (an argument, an objection, etc.).

See all 10 meanings of assoil