absolute.html - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 complete, utter, perfect (an absolute fool; absolute bliss).
2 unconditional, unlimited (absolute authority).
3 despotic; ruling arbitrarily or with unrestricted power (an absolute monarch).
4 (of a standard or other concept) universally valid; not admitting exceptions; not relative or comparative.
5 Gram. a (of a construction) syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence, as in dinner being over, we left the table; let us toss for it, loser to pay. b (of an adjective or transitive verb) used or usable without an expressed noun or object (e.g. the deaf, guns kill).
6 (of a legal decree etc.) final.

--n.

Philos.
1 a value, standard, etc., which is objective and universally valid, not subjective or relative.
2 (prec. by the) a Philos. that which can exist without being related to anything else. b Theol. ultimate reality; God.

absolute alcohol Chem. ethanol free from water or other impurities. absolute magnitude the magnitude, i.e. brightness, of a celestial body as seen at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (opp. apparent magnitude). absolute majority 1 a majority over all others combined.
2 more than half. absolute pitch Mus.
1 the ability to recognize the pitch of a note or produce any given note.
2 a fixed standard of pitch defined by the rate of vibration. absolute temperature one measured from absolute zero. absolute zero a theoretical lowest possible temperature, at which the particles whose motion constitutes heat would be minimal, calculated as -273.15

C (or ÛK).

absoluteness n. [ME f. L absolutus past part.: see ABSOLVE]

absolute.html - adv.
1 completely, utterly, perfectly (absolutely marvellous; he absolutely denies it).
2 independently; in an absolute sense (God exists absolutely).
3 (foll. by neg.) (no or none) at all (absolutely no chance of winning; absolutely nowhere).
4 colloq. in actual fact; positively (it absolutely exploded).
5 Gram. in an absolute way, esp. (of a verb) without a stated object.
6 colloq. (used in reply) quite so; yes.

absolute.html - n.
1 a formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
2 an ecclesiastical declaration of forgiveness of sins.
3 a remission of penance.
4 forgiveness. [ME f. OF f. L absolutio -onis (as ABSOLVE)]

absolute.html - n.
the acceptance of or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical or theological matters.

absolutist n. & adj.

absolute.html - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 complete, utter, perfect (an absolute fool; absolute bliss).
2 unconditional, unlimited (absolute authority).
3 despotic; ruling arbitrarily or with unrestricted power (an absolute monarch).
4 (of a standard or other concept) universally valid; not admitting exceptions; not relative or comparative.
5 Gram. a (of a construction) syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence, as in dinner being over, we left the table; let us toss for it, loser to pay. b (of an adjective or transitive verb) used or usable without an expressed noun or object (e.g. the deaf, guns kill).
6 (of a legal decree etc.) final.

--n.

Philos.
1 a value, standard, etc., which is objective and universally valid, not subjective or relative.
2 (prec. by the) a Philos. that which can exist without being related to anything else. b Theol. ultimate reality; God.

absolute alcohol Chem. ethanol free from water or other impurities. absolute magnitude the magnitude, i.e. brightness, of a celestial body as seen at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (opp. apparent magnitude). absolute majority 1 a majority over all others combined.
2 more than half. absolute pitch Mus.
1 the ability to recognize the pitch of a note or produce any given note.
2 a fixed standard of pitch defined by the rate of vibration. absolute temperature one measured from absolute zero. absolute zero a theoretical lowest possible temperature, at which the particles whose motion constitutes heat would be minimal, calculated as -273.15

C (or ÛK).

absoluteness n. [ME f. L absolutus past part.: see ABSOLVE]

absolute.html - adv.
1 completely, utterly, perfectly (absolutely marvellous; he absolutely denies it).
2 independently; in an absolute sense (God exists absolutely).
3 (foll. by neg.) (no or none) at all (absolutely no chance of winning; absolutely nowhere).
4 colloq. in actual fact; positively (it absolutely exploded).
5 Gram. in an absolute way, esp. (of a verb) without a stated object.
6 colloq. (used in reply) quite so; yes.