assoil
/ə'sɔil/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (Transitive):
- To absolve or acquit; to pronounce free from guilt or blame, especially in a legal or moral sense. This is the primary and now largely archaic or literary meaning.
- To atone for or expiate (a sin). An older, now obsolete meaning related to cleansing from sin.
Usage and Examples
- Verb:
- The court's final verdict was to assoil the accused of all charges. (The court declared the accused not guilty.)
- (Archaic) He sought the priest's blessing to assoil his transgressions. (He sought forgiveness for his sins.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is rarely used in modern English outside of historical, literary, or poetic contexts. When used, it often carries a formal, solemn, or archaic tone.
- It can be found in older legal or religious texts, such as:
Variants and Related Words
- Absolve (verb): To set free from guilt, obligation, or punishment. This is the most common modern synonym.
- Acquit (verb): To declare not guilty of a criminal charge.
- Exonerate (verb): To absolve from blame for a fault or wrongdoing.
- Pardon (verb/noun): To forgive or excuse an offense; an official release from legal punishment.
Synonyms
- Clear: To free from accusation or blame.
- Exculpate: To show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing.
- Vindicate: To clear from blame or suspicion.
Antonyms
- Convict: To declare guilty of a criminal offense.
- Condemn: To express complete disapproval of; to sentence to punishment.
- Accuse: To charge someone with an offense or crime.
Notes
- "Assoil" is considered an archaic term. In contemporary English, absolve, acquit, or exonerate are strongly preferred for clarity.
- Its use today is primarily stylistic, intended to evoke an older period or a formal, religious atmosphere.
Verb
- pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
- The suspect was cleared of the murder charges