Resolver

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who finds solutions to problems or settles disagreements ; a mechanism or software that processes and answers specific questions or data requests
2. A person tasked with clarifying issues or making decisions to resolve conflicts ; a tool or system designed to handle and respond to inquiries or commands in computing or communication
3. Someone who works to end disputes or offers resolutions ; a piece of equipment or an application responsible for interpreting and returning requested information

Etymology: "Resolver" is a plain formation: the verb "resolve" with the agent suffix "-er" added to it, so the word names a person who resolves something. The "-er" ending has a long pedigree of its own. It traces back through Old English and Middle English "-ere," which descend from Latin "-arius," an ending that marked a person connected with a trade or role, and it was borrowed into English largely through Old French. Its many relatives, such as "teacher" and "baker," follow the same pattern. The base verb "resolve" comes from Latin "resolvere," meaning "to loosen" or "to unfasten," built from "re-" ("back") and "solvere" ("to loosen"). The sense of settling a dispute grew out of the earlier idea of untying or breaking apart a knot until the matter came clear. So a resolver is, at root, someone who unties a difficulty.

Synonyms: determiner, solver, decider