absolution
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absolution
In a religious context, especially in Christianity, the forgiveness of sins pronounced by a priest in God's name after confession.
Nachdem er seine Sünden bekannt hatte, erteilte ihm der Priester die Absolution.
After he had confessed his sins, the priest granted him absolution.
absolution
In a figurative sense, relief from guilt or release from an accusation or responsibility, often granted by another person.
Seine öffentliche Entschuldigung war ein Versuch, von der Öffentlichkeit Absolution für sein Fehlverhalten zu erhalten.
His public apology was an attempt to receive absolution from the public for his misconduct.
'Absolution' (absolution) is almost always used with the verbs 'erteilen' (to grant) or 'geben' (to give), as in 'jemandem Absolution erteilen/geben' (to grant/give someone absolution), and 'bekommen' (to get) or 'erhalten' (to receive), as in 'Absolution bekommen/erhalten' (to get/receive absolution). 'Erteilen' is the most formal variant.
Der Chef erteilte ihm für den kleinen Fehler die Absolution.
The boss granted him absolution for the small mistake.
The word 'Absolution' (absolution) belongs to elevated language. It is used mainly in formal, written, or intellectual contexts and sounds rather unusual in normal everyday speech.
In seiner Rede bat der Politiker um Absolution für die Fehler seiner Partei.
In his speech, the politician asked for absolution for his party's mistakes.
You can recognize the original religious meaning from words from a church context, such as 'Priester' (priest), 'Beichte' (confession), 'Sünde' (sin), or 'Kirche' (church).
Im Beichtstuhl wartete der Gläubige auf die Absolution des Priesters.
In the confessional, the believer waited for the priest's absolution.
The figurative meaning of relief from guilt is often used in social or personal contexts. Signal words here are 'Öffentlichkeit' (public), 'Fehlverhalten' (misconduct), 'Skandal' (scandal), or 'Entschuldigung' (apology).
Durch sein Geständnis erhoffte er sich Absolution von der Öffentlichkeit.
Through his confession, he hoped to receive absolution from the public.
relief / discharge
Entlastung and Absolution can both mean that an accusation or guilt becomes less burdensome. Entlastung matter-of-factly describes reducing or removing the burden, for example through new evidence. Absolution emphasizes more strongly that another person or authority explicitly forgives the guilt.
Nach seiner Erklärung erteilte der Verein dem Trainer öffentlich Absolution.
After his explanation, the club publicly granted the trainer absolution.
Die neuen Beweise brachten dem Trainer nach dem Vorwurf Entlastung.
The new evidence helped clear the trainer after the accusation.
