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
Latin ab- (away) + solvere (release) → absolvere (set free)
dissolute — lacking moral restraint, especially in pursuit of pleasure
Latin dis- (apart) + solvere (loosen) → dissolutus (loosened, unrestrained)
resolute — firmly determined
Latin re- (expressing thoroughness) + solvere (loosen) → resolutus (unfastened; later, settled or determined)
solvent — able to pay debts; also, a substance that dissolves another substance
Latin solvere (loosen, dissolve, pay) → solvens, solvent- (loosening or paying)
solution — an answer to a problem; also, a mixture formed by dissolving
Latin solvere (loosen) → solut- (loosened) + -ion (action or result), through solutio
soluble — capable of being dissolved
Latin solvere (loosen, dissolve) → solubilis (capable of being dissolved)
insolvency — the state of being unable to pay one's debts
in- (not) + solvent (able to pay, from Latin solvere) + -cy (state)