solv/solu

loosen; release

Spelled solv, solu · solvere 'loosen, release, pay'; solutus 'loosened, released'

Latin solvere means loosen: absolve releases blame, a solvent loosens substances into a mixture, and a solution untangles a problem.

Words built from it

absolve — free someone from blame or responsibility
ab- (away) + solv (release)
dissolute — lacking moral restraint, especially in pursuit of pleasure
dis- (apart) + solu (loosen)
resolute — firmly determined
re- (thoroughly) + solu (loosen)
solvent — able to pay debts; also, a substance that dissolves another substance
solv (loosen; pay) + -ent (doing)
solution — an answer to a problem; also, a mixture formed by dissolving
solu (loosen) + -tion (action or result)
soluble — capable of being dissolved
solu (loosen) + -ble (able to be)
insolvency — the state of being unable to pay one's debts
in- (not) + solvent (able to pay, from Latin solvere) + -cy (state)