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absolute

Pronunciation: /ˈabsəluːt/

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Definition of absolute

adjective

  • 1not qualified or diminished in any way; total:absolute secrecy absolute silence
  • used for emphasis when expressing an opinion:the policy is absolute folly
  • (of powers or rights) not subject to any limitation; unconditional:no one dare challenge her absolute authority the right to life is absolute
  • (of a ruler) having unrestricted power:Dom Miguel proclaimed himself absolute monarch
  • Law (of a decree) final:the decree of nullity was made absoluteSee also decree absolute.
  • 2viewed or existing independently and not in relation to other things; not relative or comparative:absolute moral standards
  • 3 Grammar (of a construction) syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence, as in dinner being over, we left the table.
  • (of a transitive verb) used without an expressed object (e.g. guns kill).
  • (of an adjective) used without an expressed noun (e.g. the brave).

noun

Philosophy
  • a value or principle which is regarded as universally valid or which may be viewed without relation to other things:good and evil are presented as absolutes
  • (the absolute) that which exists without being dependent on anything else.
  • (the Absolute) ultimate reality; God.

Derivatives

absoluteness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin absolutus 'freed, unrestricted', past participle of absolvere (see absolve)

absolute in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of absolute in the US English dictionary