c.1440, "to disperse, dissipate, loosen," from L.
solvere "to loosen, dissolve, untie," from PIE
*se-lu-, from reflexive pronoun
*swe- + base
*leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart" (cf. Gk.
lyein "to loosen, release, untie," O.E.
-leosan "to lose,"
leas "loose;" see
lose). The meaning "explain, answer" is attested from c.1533; for sense evolution, see
solution. Mathematical use is attested from 1737.
[solv] 
