n. The quality of being irresolvable; irresolvableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. ir- not + resolvable. Cf. Irresoluble. ] Incapable of being resolved; not separable into component parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Irresolvable nebulæ (Astron.), nebulæ of a cloudlike appearance, which have not yet been resolved by the telescope into stars, and are often distant galaxies. See galaxy{ 2 }. Sir W. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. The quality or state of being irresolvable; irresolvability. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without settled determination; in a hesitating manner; doubtfully. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Preresolved p. pr. & vb. n. Preresolving. ] To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To resolve again. [ 1913 Webster ]

Resolves, and re-resolves, then dies the same. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or condition of being resolvable; resolvableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Resolve, and cf. Resoluble. ] Admitting of being resolved; admitting separation into constituent parts, or reduction to first principles; admitting solution or explanation; as, resolvable compounds; resolvable ideas or difficulties. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being resolvable; resolvability. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Resolved p. pr. & vb. n. Resolving. ] [ L. resolvere, resolutum, to untie, loosen, relax, enfeeble; pref. re- re- + solvere to loosen, dissolve: cf. F. résoudare to resolve. See Solve, and cf. Resolve, v. i., Resolute, Resolution. ] 1. To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; -- said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye immortal souls, who once were men,
And now resolved to elements again. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reduce to simple or intelligible notions; -- said of complex ideas or obscure questions; to make clear or certain; to free from doubt; to disentangle; to unravel; to explain; hence, to clear up, or dispel, as doubt; as, to resolve a riddle. “Resolve my doubt.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To the resolving whereof we must first know that the Jews were commanded to divorce an unbelieving Gentile. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to perceive or understand; to acquaint; to inform; to convince; to assure; to make certain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir, be resolved. I must and will come. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Resolve me, Reason, which of these is worse,
Want with a full, or with an empty purse? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

In health, good air, pleasure, riches, I am resolved it can not be equaled by any region. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must be resolved how the law can be pure and perspicuous, and yet throw a polluted skirt over these Eleusinian mysteries. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To determine or decide in purpose; to make ready in mind; to fix; to settle; as, he was resolved by an unexpected event. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To express, as an opinion or determination, by resolution and vote; to declare or decide by a formal vote; -- followed by a clause; as, the house resolved (or, it was resolved by the house) that no money should be apropriated (or, to appropriate no money). [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To change or convert by resolution or formal vote; -- used only reflexively; as, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Math.) To solve, as a problem, by enumerating the several things to be done, in order to obtain what is required; to find the answer to, or the result of. Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Med.) To dispere or scatter; to discuss, as an inflammation or a tumor. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Mus.) To let the tones (as of a discord) follow their several tendencies, resulting in a concord. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. To relax; to lay at ease. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

To resolve a nebula.(Astron.) See Resolution of a nebula, under Resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To solve; analyze; unravel; disentangle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ The sense “to be convinced, to determine” comes from the idea of loosening, breaking up into parts, analyzing, hence, determining. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To be separated into its component parts or distinct principles; to undergo resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To melt; to dissolve; to become fluid. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the blood stagnates in any part, it first coagulates, then resolves, and turns alkaline. Arbuthhnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be settled in opinion; to be convinced. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Let men resolve of that as they plaease. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To form a purpose; to make a decision; especially, to determine after reflection; as, to resolve on a better course of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To determine; decide; conclude; purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of resolving or making clear; resolution; solution. “To give a full resolve of that which is so much controverted.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which has been resolved on or determined; decisive conclusion; fixed purpose; determination; also, legal or official determination; a legislative declaration; a resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor is your firm resolve unknown. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Caesar's approach has summoned us together,
And Rome attends her fate from our resolves. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. Having a fixed purpose; determined; resolute; -- usually placed after its noun; as, a man resolved to be rich. [ 1913 Webster ]

That makes him a resolved enemy. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am resolved she shall not settle here. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. So as to resolve or clear up difficulties; clearly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of that, and all the progress, more or less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resolutely; decidedly; firmly. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Fixedness of purpose; firmness; resolution. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having power to resolve; causing solution; solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. resolvens, p. pr. of resolvere: cf. F. résolvant. See Resolve. ] 1. That which has the power of resolving, or causing solution; a solvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) That which has power to disperse inflammatory or other tumors; a discutient; anything which aids the absorption of effused products. Coxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Math.) An equation upon whose solution the solution of a given pproblem depends. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which decomposes, or dissolves. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which clears up and removes difficulties, and makes the mind certain or determined. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who resolves, or formal a firm purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
See ordinate.
See original.
See ornamental.
See orthodox.
See ostentatious.
See pacifiable.
See pacific.
See painful.
See palatable.
See parallelable.
See pardonable.
See partable.
See participant.
See passionate.
See pastoral.
See pathetic.
See patriotic.
See peaceable.
See peaceful.
See pedantic.
See perceivable.
See perceptible.
See perilous.
See permanent.
See personable.
See perspirable.
See persuadable.
See persuasive.
See philanthropic.
See philosophic.
See philosophical.
See physical.
See picturesque.
See pierceable.
See pitiful.
See plain.
See plausible.
See plausive.
See pleadable.
See pleasurable.
See pliable.
See pliant.
See plumb.
See poetic.
See poetical.
See political.
See popular.
See populous.
See portable.
See potable.
See precarious.
See precise.
See pregnant.
See prejudicate.
See prelatical.
See premeditable.
See presentable.
See preservable.
See presumptuous.
See pretentious.
See pretty.
See prevalent.
See priestly.
See primitive.
See princely.
See procurable.
See producible.
See productive.
See professional.
See profitable.
See prolific.
See pronounceable.
See prophetic.
See propitious.
See proportionable.
See proportionate.
See prosperous.
See provable.
See punctilious.
See punctual.
See punishable.
See pure.
See qualifiable.
See quenchable.
See quiet.
See rational.
See readable.
See reasonable.
See recallable.
See reclaimable.
See recognizable.
See reconcilable.
See recoverable.
See recumbent.
See reformable.
See refusable.
See regardable.
See regardant.
See relative.
See relievable.
See reluctant.
See remarkable.
See remediable.
See rememberable.
See remorseful.
See removable.
See remunerative.
See repairable.
See repealable.
See repentant.
See reprovable.
See repugnant.
See requisite.
See requitable.
See resolvable.
See respectable.
See restful.
See retentive.
See returnable.
See revengeful.
See ridable.
See ridiculous.
See rightful.
See romantic.
See rough.
See royal.
See ruinable.
See ruly.
See sacrificial.
See safe.
See sage.
See sailable.
See salable.
See sane.
See sanguine.
See sanitary.
See satisfactory.
See satisfiable.
See saturable.
See savory.
See scalable.
See scaly.
See scholarly.
See scholastic.
See scientific.
See scornful.
See scriptural.
See sculptural.
See seaworthy.
See sectarian.
See secular.
See sedentary.
See selfish.
See sentient.
See sentimental.
See serviceable.
See severe.
See shamefaced.
See shamefast.
See shapely.
See shy.
See sick.
See sicker.
See sightly.
See simple.
See sinewy.
See sizable.
See sleek.
See slumberous.
See sly.
See smooth.
See smotherable.
See smutty.
See sober.
See sociable.
See social.
See solemn.
See soliciutous.
See solvable.
See speakable.
See speedy.
See spiritual.
See spontaneous.
See sportful.
See sportsmanlike.
See statutable.
See steadfast.
See steady.
See stormy.
See stout.
See strong.
See subduable.
See subject.
See submissive.
See subordinate.
See substantial.
See successive.
See succorable.
See suggestive.
See suitable.
See sunny.
See superfluous.
See supple.
See sure.
See surpassable.
See susceptible.
See suspect.
See suspectable.
See suspicious.
See sustainable.
See sweet.
See syllogistical.
See symbolic.
See sympathetic.
See systematic.
See tamable.
See tame.
See teachable.
See technical.
See tellable.
See tenable.
See tender.
See terrestrial.
See terrific.
See thankful.
See theological.
See thinkable.
See thirsty.
See thorny.
See thoughtful.
See tidy.
See tillable.
See toothsome.
See touchable.
See traceable.
See tractable.
See tragic.
See tranquil.
See transferable.
See translatable.
See transmutable.
See transparent.
See transpassable.
See traversable.
See tremulous.
See trimphant.
See trustworthy.
See trusty.
See tumultous.
See tunable.
See uniform.
See usable.
See useful.
See vanquishable.
See variant.
See venerable.
See venomous.
See veracious.
See verdant.
See veritable.
See vigilant.
See vigorous.
See virtuous.
See vital.
See vitrifiable.
See vocal.
See voidable.
See voluptuous.
See voyageable.
See vulgar.
See walkable.
See warlike.
See watchful.
See watery.
See wealthy.
See wearable.
See weary.
See welcome.
See wet.
See wholesome.
See wieldsome.
See willful.
See wily.
See witty.
See womanly.
See workable.
See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
See writable.
See zealous.
------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]