Resolution \Res`o*lu"tion\ (-l?"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]solution. L.
   resolutio a loosening, solution. See Resolve.]
   1. The act, operation, or process of resolving. Specifically:
      (a) The act of separating a compound into its elements or
          component parts.
      (b) The act of analyzing a complex notion, or solving a
          vexed question or difficult problem.
          [1913 Webster]

                The unraveling and resolution of the
                difficulties that are met with in the execution
                of the design are the end of an action.
                                                  --Dryden.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. The state of being relaxed; relaxation. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The state of being resolved, settled, or determined;
      firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination.
      [1913 Webster]

            Be it with resolution then to fight.  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose;
      determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the
      opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly,
      adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the
      resolutions of a public meeting.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought;
      conviction; assurance. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Little resolution and certainty there is as touching
            the islands of Mauritania.            --Holland.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Math.) The act or process of solving; solution; as, the
      resolution of an equation or problem.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. (Med.) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of
      a fever, a tumor, or the like.
      [1913 Webster]

   8. (Mus.) The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord
      by the rising or falling of the note which makes the
      discord.
      [1913 Webster]

   9. (Technical) The act of distinguishing between two close
      but not identical objects, or, when taking a measurement,
      bbetween two close values of the property measured.
      [PJC]

   10. (Technical) a measure of the ability to distinguish
       between two close but not identical values of the
       property being measured; it is expressed as the
       difference in values of a property necessary to make such
       a distinction; as, a microscope with a resolution of one
       micron; a thermometer with a resolution of one-tenth of a
       degree. Also called resolving power.
       [PJC]

   Joint resolution. See under Joint, a.

   Resolution of a force or Resolution of a motion (Mech.),
      the separation of a single force or motion into two or
      more which have different directions, and, taken together,
      are an equivalent for the single one; -- the opposite of
      composition of a force.

   Resolution of a nebula (Astron.), the exhibition of it to
      the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be
      composed of small stars.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Decision; analysis; separation; disentanglement;
        dissolution; resolvedness; resoluteness; firmness;
        constancy; perseverance; steadfastness; fortitude;
        boldness; purpose; resolve. See Decision.
        [1913 Webster]

	

	resolution
     n 1: a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote [syn:
          declaration, resolve]
     2: the ability of a microscope or telescope to measure the
        angular separation of images that are close together [syn:
         resolving power]
     3: the trait of being resolute; firmness of purpose; "his
        resoluteness carried him through the battle"; "it was his
        unshakeable resolution to finish the work" [syn: resoluteness,
         firmness, resolve] [ant: irresoluteness]
     4: finding a solution to a problem [syn: solving]
     5: something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision
        making; "the finally reached a settlement with the union";
        "they never did achieve a final resolution of their
        differences"; "he needed to grieve before he could achieve
        a sense of closure" [syn: settlement, closure]
     6: analysis into clear-cut components [syn: resolving]
     7: (computer science) the number of pixels per square inch on a
        computer-generated display; the greater the resolution,
        the better the picture
     8: the subsidence of swelling or others signs of inflammation
        (especially in a lung)
     9: (music) a dissonant chord is followed by a consonant chord
        [ant: preparation]
     10: a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve
         the problem; "they were trying to find a peaceful
         solution"; "the answers were in the back of the book";
         "he computed the result to four decimal places" [syn: solution,
          answer, result, solvent]
     11: a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner;
         "he always wrote down his New Year's resolutions"

	

	440 Moby Thesaurus words for "resolution":
   Z, abandon, ablation, about-face, accommodation, accomplishment,
   accuracy, act, action, acutance, adaptation, adjustment, aim,
   alchemy, ambition, anacrusis, analysis, analyzation, anatomizing,
   anatomy, animus, answer, answering, apodosis, appetence, appetency,
   appetite, application, ardency, ardor, arrangement, ascertainment,
   aspiration, assay, assaying, assiduity, assiduousness,
   assimilation, assumption, atomization, award, bass passage,
   becoming, biodegradability, biodegradation, blocking, boldness,
   bourdon, breakdown, breaking down, breaking up, breakup, bridge,
   bulldog courage, bulldog tenacity, burden, cadence, catastrophe,
   ceasing, cessation, change, change-over, changelessness, choice,
   chorus, clearing up, coda, command, commitment, committedness,
   composition of differences, compromise, conation, conatus,
   concentration, conclusion, concurrent resolution, condemnation,
   consideration, constancy, constitution, consummation, conversion,
   corrosion, corruption, counsel, crack of doom, cracking, crumbling,
   culmination, curtain, curtains, dauntlessness, death, decay,
   decease, decidedness, decipherment, decision, decoding,
   decomposition, decree, dedication, degradability, degradation,
   deliberateness, deliberation, deliverance, denouement,
   desideration, desideratum, design, desire, destination, destiny,
   detailing, determination, development, devotedness, devotion,
   devoutness, diaeresis, diagnosis, dictum, dilapidation, diligence,
   discretion, discrimination, disentanglement, disintegration,
   disjunction, disorganization, disposition, dissection, dissolution,
   division, docimasy, dogged perseverance, doggedness, doom,
   earnestness, effect, effort, enaction, enactment, end, end point,
   end result, endeavor, ending, endurance, engrossment, enumeration,
   envoi, epilogue, erosion, eschatology, exactitude, exactness,
   exertion, expiration, explanation, explication, exposition, faith,
   faithfulness, fancy, fate, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fidelity,
   figure, final solution, final twitch, final words, finale,
   finality, finding, finding-out, fineness, finis, finish, fire,
   firmness, fixed purpose, fixedness, flip-flop, folderol, fortitude,
   free choice, free will, function, gameness, gaminess, goal,
   gravimetric analysis, grittiness, growth, hardihood, hardiness,
   harmonic close, harmonization, heartiness, heat, heatedness, idea,
   immutability, impassionedness, improper suggestion, inclination,
   incoherence, indecent proposal, indefatigability, industriousness,
   industry, inflexibility, insistence, insistency, instance,
   instrumentation, intendment, intensity, intent, intention,
   intentness, interlude, intermezzo, interpretation, intonation,
   introductory phrase, irreversibility, issue, itemization, izzard,
   joint resolution, judgement, lapse, last, last breath, last gasp,
   last things, last trumpet, last words, latter end, lawmaking,
   legislation, legislature, liking, loyalty, lust, meaning, measure,
   mettlesomeness, mildew, mind, modulation, mold, motion, motive,
   movement, musical phrase, musical sentence, naturalization,
   nerviness, nisus, notion, oath, objective, obligation, obstinacy,
   omega, orchestration, order, ornament, outcome, oxidation,
   oxidization, parsing, part, pass, passage, passing, passion,
   passionateness, patience, patience of Job, payoff, period,
   permanence, peroration, perseverance, persistence, persistency,
   pertinaciousness, pertinacity, phrase, phrasing, plan, pleasure,
   pledge, plodding, pluckiness, plugging, point, precedent,
   precision, preoccupation, preparation, prognosis, progress,
   project, promise, pronouncement, proposal, proposition, prospectus,
   proximate analysis, purpose, purposefulness, quantitative analysis,
   quietus, ravages of time, re-formation, reason, reconversion,
   reduction, reduction to elements, refrain, relentlessness, request,
   resoluteness, resolve, resolving, response, resting place, result,
   reversal, riddling, ritornello, ruling, rust, sake, scansion,
   schematization, section, sedulity, sedulousness, segmentation,
   semimicroanalysis, sentence, separation, seriousness, setting,
   settlement, sexual desire, sharpness, shift, sincerity,
   single-mindedness, singleness of purpose, slogging, solution,
   solving, sorting out, spirit, spoilage, spunkiness, stability,
   stamina, stanza, statement, staunchness, staying power,
   steadfastness, steadiness, stick-to-itiveness, stoppage,
   stopping place, strain, striving, struggle, stubbornness, study,
   subdivision, suggestion, suspension, swan song, switch,
   switch-over, tailpiece, tenaciousness, tenacity, term, terminal,
   termination, terminus, terms, tirelessness, tone painting,
   transcription, transformation, transit, transition, turning into,
   tutti, tutti passage, unalterability, unchangeability, undertaking,
   unraveling, unremittingness, unriddling, unscrambling, unspinning,
   unswerving attention, untangling, untwisting, unweaving, upshot,
   variation, vehemence, velleity, verdict, verse, view, volition,
   volte-face, vow, warmth, wear, wear and tear, will, will power,
   windup, wish, word of honor, working, working-out, zeal

	

	resolution
     
        1.  the maximum number of pixels that can be
        displayed on a monitor, expressed as (number of horizontal
        pixels) x (number of vertical pixels), i.e., 1024x768.  The
        ratio of horizontal to vertical resolution is usually 4:3, the
        same as that of conventional television sets.
     
        2.  A mechanical method for proving statements of
        first order logic, introduced by J. A. Robinson in 1965.
        Resolution is applied to two clauses in a sentence.  It
        eliminates, by unification, a literal that occurs
        "positive" in one and "negative" in the other to produce a new
        clause, the resolvent.
     
        For example, given the sentence:
     
        	(man(X) => mortal(X))  AND  man(socrates).
     
        The literal "man(X)" is "negative".  The literal
        "man(socrates)" could be considered to be on the right hand
        side of the degenerate implication
     
        	True => man(socrates)
     
        and is therefore "positive".  The two literals can be unified
        by the binding X = socrates.
     
        The truth table for the implication function is
     
        	A | B | A => B
        	--+---+-------
        	F | F |   T
        	F | T |   T
        	T | F |   F
        	T | T |   T
     
        (The implication only fails if its premise is true but its
        conclusion is false).  From this we can see that
     
        	A => B   ==   (NOT A) OR B
     
        Which is why the left hand side of the implication is said to
        be negative and the right positive.  The sentence above could
        thus be written
     
        	((NOT man(socrates)) OR mortal(socrates))
        	AND
        	man(socrates)
     
        Distributing the AND over the OR gives
     
        	((NOT man(socrates)) AND man(socrates))
        	OR
        	mortal(socrates) AND man(socrates)
     
        And since (NOT A) AND A == False, and False OR A == A we can
        simplify to just
     
        	mortal(socrates) AND man(socrates)
     
        So we have proved the new literal, mortal(socrates).
     
        Resolution with backtracking is the basic control mechanism
        of Prolog.
     
        See also modus ponens, SLD Resolution.
     
        3.  address resolution.
     
        (1996-02-09)

	

	RESOLUTION. A solemn judgment or decision of a court. This word is 
frequently used in this sense, in Coke and some of the more ancient 
reporters. It also signifies an agreement to a law or other thing adopted by 
a legislature or popular assembly. Vide Dict. de Jurisp. h.t. 
	

	RESOLUTION, Civil law. The act by which a contract which existed and was 
good, is rendered null. 
     2. Resolution differs essentially from rescission. The former 
presupposes the contract to have been valid, and it is owing to a cause 
posterior to the agreement that the resolution takes place; while 
rescission, on the contrary, supposes that some vice or defect annulled the 
contract from the beginning. Resolution may be by consent of the parties or 
by the decision of a competent tribunal; rescission must always be by the 
judgment of a court. 7 Troplong, de la Vente, n. 689; 7 Toull. 551; Dall. 
Dict. h.t.