All 8 Uses
resolve
in
Bartleby, the Scrivener: a Story of Wall Street
(Edited)
- Now, valuing his morning services as I did, and resolved not to lose them; yet, at the same time made uncomfortable by his inflamed ways after twelve o'clock; and being a man of peace, unwilling by my admonitions to call forth unseemly retorts from him; I took upon me, one Saturday noon (he was always worse on Saturdays), to hint to him, very kindly, that perhaps now that he was growing old, it might be well to abridge his labors; in short, he need not come to my chambers after twelve…
resolved = decided
- So I made up my mind to let him stay, resolving, nevertheless, to see to it, that during the afternoon he had to do with my less important papers.
resolving = deciding
- I resolved to assign Bartleby a corner by the folding-doors, but on my side of them, so as to have this quiet man within easy call, in case any trifling thing was to be done.
resolved = decided
- Finally, I resolved upon this;—I would put certain calm questions to him the next morning, touching his history, etc., and if he declined to answer them openly and unreservedly (and I supposed he would prefer not), then to give him a twenty dollar bill over and above whatever I might owe him, and tell him his services were no longer required; but that if in any other way I could assist him, I would be happy to do so, especially if he desired to return to his native place, wherever that…
- Mortified as I was at his behavior, and resolved as I had been to dismiss him when I entered my offices, nevertheless I strangely felt something superstitious knocking at my heart, and forbidding me to carry out my purpose, and denouncing me for a villain if I dared to breathe one bitter word against this forlornest of mankind.
*resolved = determined (having had firm purpose)
- I resolved to argue the matter over with him again.
*resolved = decided
- But thus it often is, that the constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves of the more generous.
resolves = decides; or decisions
- I resolved to gather all my faculties together, and for ever rid me of this intolerable incubus.
resolved = decided
Definitions:
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(1)
(resolve as in: I resolved to stop drinking.) to decide -- typically a firm or formal decisionIn 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.
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(2)
(resolve as in: This committee hereby resolves...) make a decision or voice an opinion by formal group vote
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(3)
(resolve as in: Her resolve weakened.) firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
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(4)
(resolve as in: How was the problem resolved?) to solve a problem, settle a disagreement, or for a situation to change
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(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."