[ad. L. solūt-us, pa. pple. of solvĕre SOLVE v.]
† 1. Of loose open texture or composition. Obs.
c. 1440. trans. Pallad. on Husb., I. 250. Eek cornys best wole thryue In opon lond, solute. Ibid., XIII. 33. In lond that is solute … Not depe hem sette.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., App. (1662), 183. From the solute Arenosity (as I may so speak) of Air and Fire.
† 2. Unmarried. Obs. rare.
1554. MS. Cant. Cathedral Libr. Reg. N, lf. 166 b. I haue maried one Agnes Staunton, a single or solute woman. Ibid., 167 b. One Anne Wescotte, a single and solute woman.
† 3. Of discourse: Free, loose, discursive. Obs.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxv. § 10. The Interpretations of the Scriptures are of two sorts: Methodical, and Solute, or at large.
c. 1680. MacWard, Contendings (1723), 177. Some, whom you mind to hit right or wrong in a solute and lax discourse.
† 4. Relaxed, free from care. Obs.–1
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 585. God of joyous wit, A brow solute, and ever-laughing eye.
5. Bot. Not adhering; separate.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., III. xvii. (1765), 210. Solute, free or loose, in most Plants.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1072/2. Solute, completely separate from neighbouring parts.
6. Dissolved; in a state of solution. Also fig.
1886. W. C. Wilkinson, Classic Fr. Course, v. 75 (Stand.). His [La Rochefoucauld’s] maxims are like hard and sharp crystals, precipitated from the worldly wisdom blandly solute and dilute in Montaigne.
1904. W. C. Dampier-Whetham, Rec. Develop. Phys. Sci., iv. 115. The solution … may be regarded as containing a number of little systems, each composed of a solute particle surrounded by an atmosphere of solvent.
