assoil

3 definitions found

assoil - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Assoil \As*soil"\, v. t. [OF. assoiler, absoiler, assoldre, F.
     absoudre, L. absolvere. See Absolve.]
     1. To set free; to release. [Archaic]
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              Till from her hands the spright assoiled is.
                                                    --Spenser.
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     2. To solve; to clear up. [Obs.]
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              Any child might soon be able to assoil this riddle.
                                                    --Bp. Jewel.
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     3. To set free from guilt; to absolve. [Archaic]
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              Acquitted and assoiled from the guilt. --Dr. H.
                                                    More.
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              Many persons think themselves fairly assoiled,
              because they are . . . not of scandalous lives.
                                                    --Jer. Taylor.
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     4. To expiate; to atone for. [Archaic] --Spenser.
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              Let each act assoil a fault.          --E. Arnold.
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     5. To remove; to put off. [Obs.]
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              She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite
              assoil.                               --Spenser.
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  Assoil \As*soil"\, v. t. [Pref. ad- + soil.]
     To soil; to stain. [Obs. or Poet.] --Beau. & Fl.
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           Ne'er assoil my cobwebbed shield.        --Wordsworth.
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assoil - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  assoil
      v 1: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; "The suspect was
           cleared of the murder charges" [syn: acquit, assoil,
           clear, discharge, exonerate, exculpate] [ant:
           convict]