absolute Hear it!

absolute definition

ab·so·lute (ab′sə lo̵̅o̅t′, ab′sə lo̵̅o̅t′)

adjective

  1. perfect; complete; whole absolute silence
  2. not mixed; pure absolute alcohol
  3. not limited by a constitution, parliament, etc.; unrestricted an absolute ruler
  4. positive; definite an absolute certainty
  5. not doubted; actual; real an absolute truth
  6. not dependent on, or without reference to, anything else; not relative
  7. Gram.
    1. forming part of a sentence, but not in the usual relations of syntax: in the sentence “The weather being good, they went,” the weather being good is an absolute construction
    2. used without an explicit object: said of a verb usually transitive, such as steal in the sentence “Thieves steal.”
    3. used alone, with the noun understood: said of a pronoun or an adjective, such as ours and brave in the sentence “Ours are the brave.”
  8. Law without condition or encumbrance absolute ownership
  9. Physics of the absolute temperature scale

Etymology: ME absolut < L absolutus, pp. of absolvere, to loosen from: see absolve

noun

something that is absolute

Related Forms:

absolute Idioms

the Absolute

Philos. ultimate reality regarded as uncaused, unmodified, unified and complete, timeless, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law absolute definition - legal

absolute Synonyms

absolute

modif.

  1. Without limitation

    total, complete, entire, utter, perfect, infinite, unalloyed, fixed, settled, supreme, full, self-sufficing, unconditioned, unrestricted, unlimited, unconditional, unconstrained, unrestrained, unequivocal, independent, self-existent, unmixed, unqualified, categorical, without reserve, wholehearted, sheer, unstinted, unbounded, self-determined, pure, unmitigated, unabridged, thorough, clean, outright, downright, thoroughgoing, ideal, inalienable, free, simple, all-out, hard and fast, blanket, out-and-out; see also comprehensive.

    Antonyms restricted*, limited*, qualified. *

  2. Perfect

    pure, faultless, unblemished, untarnished; see perfect 2.

  3. Without limit in authority

    authoritarian, domineering, supreme, arbitrary, official, authoritative, suppressive, highhanded, autocratic, tyrannous, tyrannical, fascist, fascistic, absolutist, absolutistic, autarchic, overbearing, czarist, nazi, totalitarian, communistic, inquisitorial, oppressive, undemocratic, antidemocratic, imperious, imperative, dogmatic, commanding, controlling, compelling, despotic, lordly, intimidating, fanatic, dictatorial, peremptory, arrogant, with an iron hand; see also autocratic 1.

    Antonyms democratic*, constitutional*, lenient. *

  4. Pure

    unadulterated, unmixed, unalloyed; see pure 1.

  5. Certain

    positive, unquestionable, undeniable; see certain 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

absolute Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • agree: They could assume a framework of widely agreed absolutes and standards which are alien to so many now.

Adjective modifier

  • moral: As there are no moral absolutes so there is no expected outcome to life.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • charge: That set a hearing date for 14 February 1996 for the charging order absolute.

Modifies a noun

  • discretion: We reserve the right to make such changes at our absolute discretion.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Evolution can only work on the material at hand with almost absolute blindness.

Used with adjective complement

  • make: The petitioner may apply for the decree to be made absolute.
absolute usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

absolute quotes

If absolute sovereignty be not necessary in a State, how comes it to be so in a family?

-Astell, Mary

At worst, one is in motion; and at best, Reaching no absolute, in which to rest, One is always nearer by not keeping still.

-Gunn,Thom(sonWilliam)

Notre nature est dans le mouvement; le repos entier est la mort. Our nature consists in movement; absolute rest is death.

-Pascal, Blaise

absolute quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"absolute." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/absolute>

APA Style

absolute. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/absolute

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment