Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-SOLVE', v.t. [dizzolv'; L. dissolvo; dis and solvo, to loose, to free.]

1. To melt; to liquefy; to convert from a solid or fixed state to a fluid state, by means of heat or moisture. To dissolve by heat, is to loosen the parts of a solid body and render them fluid or easily movable. Thus ice is converted into water by dissolution. To dissolve in a liquid, is to separate the parts of a solid substance, and cause them to mix with the fluid; or to reduce a solid substance into minute parts which may be sustained in that fluid. Thus water dissolves salt and sugar.
2. To disunite; to break; to separate. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy deportment and godliness? – 2 Pet. iii.
3. To loose; to disunite. Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved. – Fairfax.
4. To loose the ties or bonds of any thing; to destroy any connected system; as, to dissolve a government; to dissolve a corporation.
5. To loose; to break; as, to dissolve a league; to dissolve the bonds of friendship.
6. To break up; to cause to separate; to put an end to; as, to dissolve the parliament; to dissolve an assembly.
7. To clear; to solve; to remove; to dissipate, or to explain, as, to dissolve doubts. We usually say, to solve doubts and difficulties.
8. To break; to destroy; as, to dissolve a charm, spell or enchantment. – Milton.
9. To loosen or relax; to make languid; as, dissolved in pleasure.
10. To waste away; to consume; to cause to vanish or perish. Thou dissolvest my substance. – Job xxx.
11. To annul; to rescind; as, to dissolve an injunction. – Johnson's Rep.