AB'SOLUTE, a. [L. absolutus. See Absolve.]

1. Literally, in a general sense, free, independent of any thing extraneous. Hence,
2. Complete in itself; positive; as, an absolute declaration.
3. Unconditional, as, an absolute promise.
4. Existing independent of any other cause, as, God is absolute.
5. Unlimited by extraneous power or control, as, an absolute government or prince.
6. Not relative, as, absolute space. – Stillingfleet. In grammar, the case absolute, is when a word or member of a sentence is not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government. A clause independent. Absolute equation, in astronomy, is the aggregate of the optic and eccentric equations. The apparent inequality of a planet's motion in its orbit, arising from its unequal distances from the earth at different times, is called its optic equation: the eccentric inequality is caused by the uniformity of the planet's motion, in an elliptical orbit, which, for that reason, appears not to be uniform. Absolute numbers, in algebra, are such as have no letters annexed as 2a + 36 = 48. The two latter numbers are absolute or pure. – Encyc. Absolute space, in physics, is space considered without relation to any other object. – Bailey. Absolute gravity, in philosophy, is that property in bodies by which they are said to weigh so much, without regard to circumstances of modification, and this is always as the quantity of matter they contain. – Bailey.

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. In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.
3. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty.
   
   

   So absolute she seems,
   And in herself complete.
   Milton.

4. 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.
   
   

   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.

5. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; self-existent; self-sufficing.
   
   

   * 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.

6. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative.
   
   

   * 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.

7. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful.
   
   
   [R.]

   I am absolute 't was very Cloten.
   Shak.

8. Authoritative; peremptory.
   
   
   [R.]

   The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head,
   With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed.
   Mrs. Browning.

9. Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol.
10. 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. -- Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to -273°] centigrade or - 459.4° Fahrenheit.

    Syn. -- Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited; unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic.