Lexical Definition

‎ἀπολύω‎ apolýō (ap-ol-oo'-o) to release: release ^G:V
from ‎ἀπό‎ and ‎λύω‎

(let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty.

• to free fully, i.e. (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively, depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon or (specially) divorce

Abbott-Smith

ἀπο-λύω, [in LXX for שׁוּב, etc., freq. in I-IV Mac;]
1. to set free, release: Lk 13:12, Jo 19:10, al.; a debtor, Mt 18:27; metaph., of forgiveness, Lk 6:37.
2. to let go, dismiss (Field, Notes, 9 f.): Mt 15:23, Lk 2:29 9:12, Ac 19:41, al.; of divorce, τ. γυναῖκα: Mt 1:19 5:31, 32 19:3, 8, 9, Mk 10:2, 4, 11, Lk 16:18; with ref. to Gk. and Rom. (net Jewish) custom, τ. ἄνδρα: Mk 10:12. Mid., to depart: Ac 28:25 (MM, s.v.).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

meaning of: ἀπολύω

ἀπολύω

[see. λύω], future -λύσω, etc.: future passive

__A ἀπολελύσομαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]:—loose from, ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὄφρ᾽ ἀπὸ τοίχους λῦσε κλύδων τρόπιος the sides of the ship from the keel, [Refs]; undo, ἀπὸ κρήδεμνον ἔλυσεν[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.2 set free, release, relieve from, ἀ. τινὰ τῆς φρουρῆς[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. τῆς μετρήσεως save them from the trouble of measuring, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:— passive, to be set free, τῶν δεινῶν, φόβου, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.2.b frequently in legal sense, ἀ. τῆς αἰτίης acquit of the charge, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to καταψηφίζω, [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, ἀ. τινὰ μὴ φῶρα εἶναι acquit of being a thief, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, acquit, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II in [Refs 8th c.BC+], release on receipt of ransom, οὐδ᾽ ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατ᾽ ἄποινα[Refs]:—middle, set free by payment of ransom, ransom, redeem, χαλκοῦ τε χρυσοῦ τ᾽ ἀπολυσόμεθ᾽ at a price of.., [Refs 8th c.BC+] (but active in Prose, ἀπολύειν πολλῶν χρημάτων[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.2 let go, let alone, leave one, of an illness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.III discharge, disband an army, ἀ. οἴκαδε[Refs 5th c.BC+]; generally, dismiss, discharge, ἐμὲ.. ἀπέλυσ᾽ ἄδειπνον[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.III.2 divorce a wife, [NT+1st c.BC+]
__A.III.3 do away with, remove, αἰσχύνην[Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.III.4 discharge or pay a debt, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; pay, ἀ. τὸν χαλκόν[Refs 1st c.BC+]; pay off a mortgage, [Refs]
__A.III.5 dismiss a charge, εἰσαγγελία ὑπὸ τοῦ κατηγόρου ἀπολελυμένη[Refs 4th c.BC+]
__A.IV ἀ. ἀνδράποδα Θρᾳξίν sell, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. οἰκίαν τινί sell a mortgaged house outright, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__A.V deliver, τί τινι[Refs 3rd c.AD+] —passive [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__A.VI begin to count, [μοίρας] ἀπό.. Vett. Val. [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__A.VII intransitive, depart (cf. B.IV, C. 2), [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__B middle with aorist 2 ἀπελύμην (in passive sense), [Refs 3rd c.AD+]:— redeem, see above [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.II ἀπολύεσθαι διαβολάς do away with, refute calumnies against one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 τὴν αἰτίαν, τὰς βλασφημίας, τὰ κατηγορημένα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2.b refute, τοὺς ἐναντίους λόγους[Refs 5th c.AD+]in defence, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.III like active, acquit, τοῦ μὴ κακῶς ἔχειν ἀλλ᾽ ὀρθῶς[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.III.2 release from, τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἀ. δουλείας[Refs]
__B.IV like passive (with [Refs]depart, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, put off, πνεῦμα ἀ.[Refs 1st c.BC+]
__C passive, to be released, ἐλπίζων τοὺς υἱέας τῆς στρατηΐης ἀπολελύσθαι from military service, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀπολυθῆναι βουλόμενοι to be freed from their rule, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, to be acquitted, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to be absolved from, τῶν ἀδικημάτων[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II of combatants, to be separated, part, οὐ ῥᾳδίως ἀπελύοντο[Refs 5th c.BC+]; generally, to be separated or detached, ἀλλήλων or ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλων, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἀπολελυμένος, absolutely, detached, αἰδοῖον, γλῶττα, ὄρχεις, [Refs]; τὴν γλῶτταν ἀ. having its tongue detached, [Refs]; also, distinct, differentiated, [Refs]
__C.II.2 depart, ἔθανες, ἀπελύθης, [LXX+5th c.BC+]
__C.III of a child, to be brought forth, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the mother, to be delivered, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.IV to be annulled, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__C.V ἀπολελυμένος, η, ον, absolute, especially in Grammars, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: also, general, of meaning, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__C.VI of metres, irregular, without strophic responsion, [Refs 7th c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.1.19 ☩ LXX.Num.20.29}