Acquits the sailor and finds the right answer (8)
I believe the answer is:
absolves
'acquits' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'sailor and finds the right answer' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'sailor' could be 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman) and 'ab' is located in the answer.
'answer' could be 'solve' and 'solve' is found in the answer.
A single letter 's' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for absolves that I've seen before include "Excuses or pardons" , "Clears of guilt or blame" , "Frees from sin or blame" , "Exonerates" , "Grants remission of sin" .)