absolute

ab•so•lute

[[t]ˈæb səˌlut, ˌæb səˈlut[/t]] adj.

1) being fully or perfectly as indicated; complete; perfect

2) free from restriction, limitation, or exception:

absolute power; absolute freedom[/ex]

3) outright; unqualified:

an absolute lie; an absolute denial[/ex]

4) gov unrestrained in the exercise of governmental power; not limited by laws or a constitution:

an absolute monarchy[/ex]

5) viewed independently; not comparative or relative; ultimate:

absolute knowledge[/ex]

6) positive; certain; definite:

absolute in opinion; absolute proof[/ex]

7) not mixed or adulterated; pure

8) gram.

a) relatively independent syntactically in relation to other elements in a sentence, as the construction It being Sunday in

It being Sunday, I wasn't at work[/ex]

b) (of a usu. transitive verb) used without an object, as give in

Please give generously[/ex]

c) (of an adjective or possessive pronoun) used alone, with the noun that is modified understood but not expressed, as hungry in to feed the hungry or mine in

Take mine[/ex]

9) Physics.

a) phs independent of arbitrary standards or of particular properties of substances or systems:

absolute humidity[/ex]

b) phs pertaining to a system of units, as the centimeter-gram-second system, based on some primary units, esp. units of length, mass, and time

c) phs pertaining to a measurement based on an absolute zero or unit, as in the absolute temperature scale

10) math. Math. (of an inequality) indicating that the expression is true for all values of the variable, as x2+ 1 > 0 for all real numbers

x[/ex]

11) something that is not dependent upon external conditions for existence or for its specific nature, size, etc

(opposed to relative).

12) the absolute

a) something that is free from any restriction or condition

b) something that is independent of some or all relations

c) something that is perfect or complete

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < L absolūtus complete, finished, unqualified, ptp. of absolvere to release; see absolve ab`so•lute′ness, n.