All 11 Uses of

resolve

in

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

I was afraid that these seemingly good men might use me so; but I nevertheless remembered their advice, and from that time I resolved to run away.
Chpt 7

resolved = decided

I resolved to wait only so long as the offering of a favorable opportunity.
Chpt 8

He resolved to put me out, as he said, to be broken; and, for this purpose, he let me for one year to a man named Edward Covey.
Chpt 9 *

At this moment I resolved, for the first time, to go to my master, enter a complaint, and ask his protection.
Chpt 10

Mr. Covey seemed now to think he had me, and could do what he pleased; but at this moment—from whence came the spirit I don't know—I resolved to fight; and, suiting my action to the resolution, I seized Covey hard by the throat; and as I did so, I rose.
Chpt 10

My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place; and I now resolved that, however long I might remain a slave in form, the day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact.
Chpt 10

resolved = firmly decided

I therefore resolved that 1835 should not pass without witnessing an attempt, on my part, to secure my liberty.
Chpt 10

resolved = decided

In coming to a fixed determination to run away, we did more than Patrick Henry, when he resolved upon liberty or death.
Chpt 10

resolved = firmly decided

We were resolved to succeed or fail together, after the calamity had befallen us as much as before.
Chpt 10

resolved = determined

I did not allow myself a single word; but was resolved, if he laid the weight of his hand upon me, it should be blow for blow.
Chpt 11 *

I thought the matter over during the next day, Sunday, and finally resolved upon the third day of September, as the day upon which I would make a second attempt to secure my freedom.
Chpt 11

resolved = decided

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."