Etymologically
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absolutus

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Forms

absolūtus (feminine absolūta, neuter absolūtum, comparative absolūtior, superlative absolūtissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is the past participle of absolvō (“to release; to complete”), used as an adjective.[1][2][3] absolvō is from ab- and solvō (“to loosen”), which de Vaan explains as a compound of sē- (“away”) and ⟨-luō⟩ "to loosen".[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest quotation is from Varro's Menippean Satires: a dinner is complete only when it has all four of its parts.[1][3] Köbler dates it from Cicero.[3]

Semantic evolution

It is complete, perfect, and as praise accomplished: Pliny the Elder writes of a hero painted in a most finished work.[1] ⟨annus absolūtus⟩ is the great year.[1] Pliny also calls gold pure, and the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of an argument complete in itself.[1] In the jurists it is unconditional, as an outright gift is distinguished from a gift in prospect of death.[1] Quintilian uses it of the positive degree in grammar and of a free, fluent mouth.[1] Church Latin glosses it perfect, complete, absolute.[5] In medieval Latin an absolūtus estate is one in the owner's own hands, not leased out.[6]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro of a complete dinner.[1][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of a finished painting and pure gold.[1][3]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of the positive degree.[1][3]
  • 1st half of 3rd century AD – Paul of an unconditional gift.[1][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Complete, finished, perfect; accomplished;[1][5] annus absolūtus, the great year.[1][5]
  2. Of substances, pure; of an argument, complete in itself.[1]
  3. Unqualified, unconditional; unambiguous; absolute.[1][5]
  4. (grammar) In the positive degree.[1]
  5. Of speech, free, fluent.[1]
  6. (Medieval Latin) Of an estate, in the owner's own hands.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill