All 9 Uses of

resolve

in

The Scarlet Letter

Under the appellation of Roger Chillingworth, the reader will remember, was hidden another name, which its former wearer had resolved should never more be spoken.
p. 80.1

resolved = decided

In fine, Hester Prynne resolved to meet her former husband, and do what might be in her power for the rescue of the victim on whom he had so evidently set his gripe.
p. 112.7

But Hester could not resolve the query, being herself in a dismal labyrinth of doubt.†
p. 68.4

In pursuance of this resolve, he took up his residence in the Puritan town as Roger Chillingworth, without other introduction than the learning and intelligence of which he possessed more than a common measure.†
p. 80.7

Hester Prynne remained constant in her resolve to make known to Mr. Dimmesdale, at whatever risk of present pain or ulterior consequences, the true character of the man who had crept into his intimacy.†
p. 123.0

"Thou art crushed under this seven years' weight of misery," replied Hester, fervently resolved to buoy him up with her own energy.†
p. 133.7

Definitions:

(1) (resolve as in: I resolved to stop drinking.)
to decide -- typically a firm or formal decision

In modern writing resolve is typically used to emphasize a firm or formal decision. In classic literature, it is used more frequently and often simply replaces decide or determine.
(2) (resolve as in: This committee hereby resolves...)
make a decision or voice an opinion by formal group vote
(3) (resolve as in: Her resolve weakened.)
firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
(4) (resolve as in: How was the problem resolved?)
to solve a problem, settle a disagreement, or for a situation to change
(5) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
Less commonly, resolve can mean:
- to make clearly visible -- as in "The microscope cannot resolve that level of detail."
- to divide into parts -- as in "The problem resolves into three parts,"or (math) "Resolve the polynomial into factors," or (chemistry) "As the temperature changes, the compound resolves into its component parts," or (physics) "The force on the inclined plane resolves into horizontal and vertical components."
- reduce or convert into something else -- as in "The URL is resolved to an IP address," or (music) "The progression is resolved as the dissonance is replaced by consonance."