Absolute Definition

ăbsə-lo͝ot, ăbsə-lo͝ot

absolutes

adjective

Unqualified in extent or degree; total.

Absolute silence.

American Heritage

Perfect; complete; whole.

Absolute silence.

Webster's New World

Not limited by restrictions or exceptions.

An absolute right.

American Heritage

Not mixed; pure.

Absolute alcohol.

Webster's New World

Being fully such; utter.

An absolute fool.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

absolutes

Something that is absolute.

Webster's New World

Something regarded as the ultimate basis of all thought and being. Used with the.

American Heritage

Something regarded as independent of and unrelated to anything else.

American Heritage

Without any conditions, encumbrance, qualification, or restriction. See also discretion, divorce, immunity, privilege, and fee.

Webster's New World Law

Not liable or subject to revisions; conclusive.

Webster's New World Law

Synonyms:

idiom

the Absolute

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

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Absolute

Singular:

absolute

Plural:

absolutes

First attested around 1380. From Middle English absolut, from Middle French absolut, from Latin absolūtus (“unconditional; unfettered; completed”), perfect passive participle of absolvō (“loosen, set free, complete”), from Latin ab (“away”) + solvo (“to loose”). Influenced in part by Old French absolu. Compare absolve.

From Wiktionary
Middle English absolut from Latin absolūtus unrestricted past participle of absolvere to absolve ab- away ab–¹ solvere to loosen leu- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition