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absolution - Word of the Day - Thu Jun 18, 2026

Myr

Entry posted by Myr in Word of the Day

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absolution - (n) - release from guilt or responsibility through forgiveness

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Absolution came from self-acceptance rather than apology.

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Author tip: Absolution often follows accountability.
Genre tags: Drama, Literary

 

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drpaladin

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Some actions are beyond absolution.

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Paladin

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It is important to distinguish between absolution and ablutions. 

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Bill W

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Absolution derives from Old French absolucion, earlier assolucion, from the Latin abolutionem (nominative absolutio ("completion", "acquittal", or "release"), which comes from the verb absolvere (ab- meaning 'off" or "away from") and (solvere meaning "to loosen", "untie", or "release".  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the noun absolution first appeared in written English during the Old English period (before 1150).  It entered the language via Old French and Latin, and was originally used within a religious or ecclesiastical context to denote the remission or forgiveness of sins. 
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Bill W

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Absolution in storytelling is the narrative resolution of a character’s guilt, transforming past transgressions into moments of redemption, grace, or emotional closure. It is a powerful tool because it directly engages the audience's innate desire to see characters overcome their deepest flaws and unshed their burdens. 
Here is a breakdown of why absolution is so vital in crafting compelling stories:  
The Climax of the Character Arc: Absolution often serves as the emotional payoff for a protagonist. A character who begins the story with a fatal flaw or a traumatic secret must confront their demons. The moment of absolution represents their successful moral maturation and their release from the prison of their past. 
Exploring the Human Condition: Stories thrive on moral complexity. Absolution allows narratives to explore the nuanced, often difficult dance between sin, sincere contrition, and pardon. It forces characters to acknowledge the weight of their actions rather than just easily erasing consequences. 
The Antagonist's Path to Redemption: Absolution is not just for heroes. For villains or anti-heroes, the pursuit of absolution is a powerful engine for change. When a flawed character actively works to rectify past wrongs, it makes their development relatable and deeply engaging.
Catharsis for the Audience: The act of storytelling is fundamentally about empathy. When a character receives absolution, it provides a cathartic release not only for the character but also for the audience, offering a universal message that no one is beyond the reach of grace or growth.   
The Illusion of Perfect Forgiveness: Sometimes, the lack of absolution is the story itself. Tragedies or complex literary works use the impossibility of absolution to highlight the irreversible weight of certain choices, questioning whether true atonement is ever possible in a broken world. 
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drpaladin

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4 hours ago, Paladin said:

It is important to distinguish between absolution and ablutions. 

And just as I was to launch a Pilate program.

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sandrewn

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5 hours ago, Paladin said:

It is important to distinguish between absolution and ablutions. 

Yet, both in their own way, speak of a cleansing. One spiritual, the other physical.

 

😇

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sandrewn

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48 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

And just as I was to launch a Pilate program.

This one was quite a stretch, even for you.

 

😉

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drpaladin

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4 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

This one was quite a stretch, even for you.

 

😉

Not at all. The basins were waist high.

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ReaderPaul

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Well, @sandrewn, if @drpaladin launched a pylote or pylot program, he could be establishing a driver education program, or a boating pilot program, or some other vehicle steering and/or directing program, since those are sometimes used as slang terms for piloting, driving or directing . . . and they are pronounced like pilot.

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sandrewn

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6 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

Well, @sandrewn, if @drpaladin launched a pylote or pylot program, he could be establishing a driver education program, or a boating pilot program, or some other vehicle steering and/or directing program, since those are sometimes used as slang terms for piloting, driving or directing . . . and they are pronounced like pilot.

Well, @ReaderPaul, I think @drpaladin was referring to a pilate exercise program. Still, it sounds too ambitious for me. I will pass the the 3/4 century mark in October. Now seeing as I have a variety of chairs, just gathering dust at home.  I will just pick a comfortable one, sit down and begin, Chair Tai Chi for Seniors over 70.

 

:cowboy:(RIP Richard Simmons)

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drpaladin

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31 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Well, @ReaderPaul, I think @drpaladin was referring to a pilate exercise program. Still, it sounds too ambitious for me. I will pass the the 3/4 century mark in October. Now seeing as I have a variety of chairs, just gathering dust at home.  I will just pick a comfortable one, sit down and begin, Chair Tai Chi for Seniors over 70.

 

:cowboy:(RIP Richard Simmons)

Wrong. Pontius Pilate. Famous for his ablution after sentencing Christ.

Edited by drpaladin
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ReaderPaul

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34 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Well, @ReaderPaul, I think @drpaladin was referring to a pilate exercise program. Still, it sounds too ambitious for me. I will pass the the 3/4 century mark in October. Now seeing as I have a variety of chairs, just gathering dust at home.  I will just pick a comfortable one, sit down and begin, Chair Tai Chi for Seniors over 70.

 

:cowboy:(RIP Richard Simmons)

Pilate exercise program is pronounced pie-LAH-te.  Whereas, pylot and pylote are pronounced like pilot.  (I like the fun we have with puns and other word play!)

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sandrewn

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2 hours ago, drpaladin said:

Wrong. Pontius Pilate. Famous for his ablution after sentencing Christ.

 

2 hours ago, ReaderPaul said:

Pilate exercise program is pronounced pie-LAH-te.  Whereas, pylot and pylote are pronounced like pilot.  (I like the fun we have with puns and other word play!)

Score: Drpaladin - 1 / sandrewn - 0.

Well, that one took me completely by surprise(well done).

Yet more proof, that it is indeed a small world! I spent several weekends in and around Jerusalem (1977-78). Went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. I really believe that with all the time spent wandered over and throughout the old city, that I may have actually walked on, over or across steps that Jesus, himself had taken, over 2 millennia ago.

 

:cowboy:

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