Absolute

Absolute stands opposed to relative, and means that the thing is considered in itself, and without reference to other things. In physics, we speak of the absolute velocity of a body—i.e. the rate of its motion through space; and of the relative velocity of two bodies—i.e. the rate at which they approach or recede from one another, one or both being in motion. In the language of modern metaphysics, the Absolute is the unconditioned, unalterable original—that which is the ultimate cause and ground of the phenomena of the visible world. For the possibility of knowing the absolute, see CONDITION, PHILOSOPHY, RELATIVITY OF KNOWLEDGE, THEISM. In Chemistry, absolute alcohol is pure, unmixed alcohol. See ABSOLUTISM.