[solve] vb solved ; solv.ing [ME, to loosen, fr. L solvere to loosen, solve, dissolve, fr. sed-, se- apart + luere to release--more at secede, lose] vt (ca. 1533) 1: to find a solution, explanation, or answer for "~ a problem" "solved the crime"
2: to pay (as a debt) in full ~ vi: to solve something "substitute the known values of the constants and ~ for x" -- solv.er n