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

absolute Related Forms

ab′·so·lute′·ness noun

absolute Idioms

the Absolute

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

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.

absolute Law Definition

n

  1. Without any conditions, encumbrance, qualification, or restriction. See also discretion, divorce, immunity, privilege, and fee.
  2. Not liable or subject to revisions; conclusive.
  3. Free from any restraint or restriction in the exercise of government power.

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.
  • make: The district judge hears the case and if satisfied makes the nisi order absolute.

Modifies a noun

  • discretion: We reserve the right to make such changes at our absolute discretion.
  • beginner: Latest Articles: How to watch Non League Football Saturday 26 th August 2006 An absolute beginners ' guide to watching non league football.
  • necessity: Week three: The absolute necessity of a total police state; NO freedom of dissent.
  • minimum: Both rooms also had an absolute minimum of storage space.
  • certainty: I know with absolute certainty that I'm past my peak.
  • zero: ANSWER: The smallest veins How many degrees Kelvin is absolute zero?

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Evolution can only work on the material at hand with almost absolute blindness.
  • either: A pathname, whether abstract or in string form, may be either absolute or relative.
  • no: We live in an age when many say there is no absolute ' truth ' ( see ' What is truth?
  • not: The rights are relative not absolute; free speech is restricted, for example, by laws on racism.
  • never: Emotions consist of subtle shade, and are never absolute.
  • only: His line is that relative poverty doesn't matter, only absolute poverty does.

Used with adjective complement

  • make: The petitioner may apply for the decree to be made absolute.
  • consider: The information quoted in the production section is the best there is available but cannot be considered absolute.
  • use: Likewise secure pages with links back to non-secure pages should use absolute addressing.
  • establish: Established absolute in smells from the it's not rocket.