absolut German · revision 35963

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1481, in the Latin form absolute|origins=la solvō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ap.zoˈluːt/, /ap.soˈluːt/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Also, colloquial: /-sə-/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''absolut''' (strong nominative masculine singular absoluter, comparative absoluter, superlative am absolutesten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|absolūtus|t=detached, independent, complete, unconditional]], borrowed in the late 15th century, the past participle of [[m|la|absolvō|t=to loosen, release, acquit, complete]] (see [[absolvieren]]), from [[m|la|ab-|t=away, off]] and [[m|la|solvō|t=to loosen, free]].^(Kluge 2011|9)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) The Latin verb is formed from [[m|la|luō]] with a prefix se-.^(Duden 7 2020|77) In politics, from the early 17th century, [[fr|absolu]] influenced its use.^(Kluge 2011|9)^(Duden 7 2020|77)^(DFWB) The same word is [[nl|absoluut]], [[en|absolute]] and [[sv|absolut]].^(Kluge 2011|9)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record, of 1481, has the Latin adverb ''absolute'' glossed “solely, without addition”.^(DFWB) The German form ''absolut'' first appears about 1530 in Paracelsus, in the sense “freed, redeemed”.^(DWB2|1, 958)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the end of the 16th century it meant “unrestricted, unconditional”, from the early 17th “unlimited” of political power, under French influence, and since the later 17th “completely, entirely”.^(Pfeifer 1993) From the early 18th century it meant “independent, in and for itself”, in philosophy and in general use, as the opposite of [[relativ]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The Latin adverb ''absolute'' was used until the early 19th century.^(DWB2|1, 958)^(DFWB)

+

+ Technical phrases followed: ''absolute Höhe'' (height above sea level) in 1706, ''absolute Mehrheit'' in 1790, ''absolute Zahl'' in 1803, Wagner's ''absolute Musik'' in 1851, ''absoluter Nullpunkt'' in 1894 and ''absolutes Gehör'' in 1910.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) ''Absolutismus'' is recorded in 1775.^(Paul 2002) Today the word is often a mere intensifier in colloquial speech, and it also entered the dialects.^(Duden 7 2020|77)^(Wiktionary) It was borrowed as [[hu|abszolút]] by 1579.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1481 – The Latin form ''absolute'' appears in a German text.^(DFWB)

+ * c. 1530 – Paracelsus uses ''absolut'' “freed”.^(DWB2|1, 958)

+ * Early 17th century – The political sense “unlimited” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB)

+ * Early 18th century – ''absolut'' comes to mean “independent” as opposed to ''relativ''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1775 – First record of ''Absolutismus''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1790 – ''absolute Mehrheit'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1894 – ''absoluter Nullpunkt'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Ruling alone, [[m|en|sovereign]], unrestricted: ''ein absoluter Herrscher'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''die absolute Monarchie''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Unconditional, complete: ''ein absolutes Rauchverbot''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|perfect|alt=Perfect]], ideal, undisturbed: ''das absolute Glück''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # That cannot be surpassed: ''ein absoluter Rekord'';^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''(physics)'' ''absoluter Nullpunkt'', the lowest possible temperature.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Total, utter: ''In der Höhle herrschte absolute Dunkelheit.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(chiefly philosophy)'' Pure, considered in itself, without relation to anything: ''das Absolute'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) ''absolute Musik''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+ # Independent, needing no aid or comparison: ''absolutes Gehör'', [[m|en|perfect pitch]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+ # ''(science)'' Chemically pure: ''absoluter Alkohol''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(intensifying)'' [[m|en|absolutely|alt=Absolutely]], at all: ''Das ergibt absolut keinen Sinn.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Absolutismus]]

+ * [[Absolutheit]]

+ * [[verabsolutieren]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[absolvieren]]

+ * [[Absolution]]

+ * [[resolut]]

+ * [[en|absolute]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}