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Glite Dictionary
absolver

absolver

9.7
A person who says another person's sins are forgiven, usually a priest
  • noun
  • /əbˈzɑlvər/
  • Formal
translation icon : absolver
  • The priest acted as an absolver for the penitent sinners who sought forgiveness.

Examples

  • Only a qualified absolver could grant sacramental absolution in that community.

  • Many consider the bishop to be a spiritual absolver.

  • As the absolver, she bore the responsibility of declaring sins forgiven during confession.

  • The priest acted as an absolver during the confession.

  • As the absolver, she had the important duty of forgiving sins during confession.

  • Only an experienced absolver had the authority to grant forgiveness to the faithful.

  • The priest served as an absolver, offering spiritual relief to those seeking redemption.

Synonyms

confessor
vsabsolver
11 8.0

A priest who listens to people's sins and gives them forgiveness

is the person who grants formal absolution in a religious context
forgiver
vsabsolver
1 4.6

A person who pardons someone and lets go of anger

is the religious figure who gives official absolution rather than general pardon
excuser
vsabsolver
7.1

A person who forgives people for mistakes

is the authority who issues formal absolution rather than offering excuses

Surface Forms

absolver singular
absolvers plural

Morphology

absolver = absolve (transparent) = absolve + er

Agentive '-er' forms 'one who absolves' from the verb 'absolve', predictable for learners.

Etymology

The word absolver comes from the Latin parts ab- 'away' and solvere 'to loosen', the same root as solve. So an absolver is someone who 'sets free' a person from their sins, which is why it means a person who grants forgiveness.