browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about absolute
absolute |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Absolute \Ab"so*lute\, n. (Geom.) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Absolute \Ab"so*lute\, a. [L. absolutus p. p. of absolvere: cf F. absolu. See {Absolve}.] 1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch. 2. Complete in itself perfect; consummate; faultless; as absolute perfection; absolute beauty. So absolute she seems And in herself complete. --Milton. 3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to {relative} and {comparative}; as absolute motion; absolute time or space. Note: Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations. 4. Loosed from or unconnected by dependence on any other being self-existent; self-sufficing. Note: In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist. The term is also applied by the Pantheist to the universe, or the total of all existence, as only capable of relations in its parts to each other and to the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their laws. 5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative. Note: It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in this sense is not applied to a mere logical fiction or abstraction, or whether the absolute, as thus defined, can be known as a reality, by the human intellect. To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing the recent philosophy of the absolute. --Sir W. Hamilton. 6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.] I am absolute 't was very Cloten. --Shak. 7. Authoritative; peremptory. [R.] The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head, With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed. --Mrs. Browning. 8. (Chem.) Pure; unmixed; as absolute alcohol. 9. (Gram.) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as the case absolute. See {Ablative absolute}, under {Ablative}. {Absolute curvature} (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of double curvature, which is measured in the osculating plane of the curve. {Absolute equation} (Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric equations. {Absolute space} (Physics), space considered without relation to material limits or objects. {Absolute terms}. (Alg.), such as are known or which do not contain the unknown quantity. --Davies & Peck. {Absolute temperature} (Physics), the temperature as measured on a scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: absolute adj 1: perfect or complete or pure; "absolute loyalty"; "absolute silence"; "absolute truth"; "absolute alcohol" [ant: {relative}] 2: complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers; "absolute freedom"; "an absolute dimwit"; "a downright lie"; "out-and-out mayhem"; "an out-and-out lie"; "a rank outsider"; "many right-down vices"; "got the job through sheer persistence"; "sheer stupidity" [syn: {downright}, {out-and-out(a)}, {rank(a)}, {right-down}, {sheer(a)}] 3: not limited by law; "an absolute monarch" 4: expressing finality with no implication of possible change; "an absolute (or unequivocal) quarantee to respect the nation's authority"; "inability to make a conclusive (or unequivocal) refusal" [syn: {conclusive}] 5: without conditions or limitations; "a total ban" [syn: {total}, {unconditioned}] 6: not capable of being violated or infringed; "infrangible human rights" [syn: {infrangible}, {inviolable}] n : something that is conceived to be absolute; something that does not depends on anything else and is beyond human control; "no mortal being can influence the absolute" From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: ABSOLUTE, adj Independent, irresponsible. An absolute monarchy is one in which the sovereign does as he pleases so long as he pleases the assassins. Not many absolute monarchies are left most of them having been replaced by limited monarchies, where the sovereign's power for evil (and for good) is greatly curtailed, and by republics, which are governed by chance.
more about absolute
This work is licensed under a
