ABSOLUTE, opposed to relative; means that the thing is considered in itself and with out reference to other things.
In Logic.—(1) Absolute or non-connotative, according to Whately, is opposed to attributive or connotative. The former does not take note of an attribute connected with the object, which the latter does. Thus "Rome" and uslcy) are absolute terms; but "Rome, the capital of Italy," and "our sky" are attributive or con notative. (Consult Whately (Logic,' bk. ii, ch. v, §§ 1, 2-5). 12) According to J. S. Mill, it is incorrect to regard non-connotative and ab solute as synonymous terms. He considers absolute to mean non-relative and to be op posed to relative. It implies that the object is to be considered as a whole, without refer ence to anything of which it is a part or to any other object distinguished from it. Thus "man" is an absolute term, but "father° is not, for father implies the existence of sons and is therefore relative. (J. S. Mill's bk. i, ch. ii).
In Grammar, a case absolute is one consist ing essentially of a substantive and a participle, which form a clause not agreeing with or gov erned by any word in the remainder of the sentence. In Greek the absolute case is the genitive; in Latin the ablative; in English it is considered to be the nominative. In Latin the words sole stante in the expression sole stante terra vertitur (the earth turns round, the sun standing still— that is, while the sun is stand ing still) are in the ablative absolute. In Eng lish, thou leading, in the following familiar quotation — " I shall not lag behind, nor err The way, thou leading—" (Milton) is in the nominative absolute. So also is I rapt in the line "And, I all rapt in this, 'Come out he said." — Tennyson's 'Princess, Prol. so.
In Law.—(1) Personal rights are divided into absolute and relative — absolute, which pertain to men as individuals; and relative, which are incident to them as members of so ciety, standing in various relations to each other. The three chief rights of an absolute kind are the right of personal security, the right of personal liberty and the right of pri vate property. (Blackstone's
bk. i, ch. i). Similarly there are absolute and relative duties. Public sobriety is a relative duty, while sobriety, even when no human eye is looking, on, is an absolute duty. (Ibid.). Property in a man's possession is described under two categories, absolute and qualified property. His chairs, tables, spoons, horses, cows, etc., are his absolute property, while the term "qualified property" is applied to the wild animals on his estate. (2) An absolute decision is one which can at once be enforced. It is opposed to a rule nisi, which cannot be acted on until cause be shown, unless, indeed, the opposite party fail to appear. (3) Absolute law: The true and proper law of nature. (4) Absolute warrandice (Scotch conveyancing) : A warranting or assuring against all mankind.
In Physics, absolute is opposed to relative. As this relativity may be of many kinds, various shades of meaning arise; thus: (1) Absolute or real expansion of a liquid, as opposed to its apparent expansion, the ex pansion which would arise when the liquid is heated if the vessel containing it did not itself expand. (2) Absolute gravity is the gravity of a body viewed apart from all modifying in fluences, as, for instance, of the atmosphere. To ascertain its amount, therefore, the body must be weighed in vacua. (3) Absolute mo tion is the change of place on a body produced by the motion so designated, viewed apart from the modifying influence arising from disturb ing elements of another kind. (4) Absolute force exercised by a centre of force; strength of a centre. (5) Absolute zero is that temper ature at which bodies are absolutely devoid of heat. It is situated at C. Absolute tem perature is temperature measured in centigrade units from absolute zero. See THERMODYNAM ICS ; ZERO.
In Astronomy, the absolute equation is the aggregate of the optic and eccentric equations.