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Where does the word "absolute" come from? It comes from Latin absolutus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "absolute" come from? It comes from Latin absolutus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Absolute’s story begins in Latin: absolutus meant “loosened, unrestricted.” Loosened, unrestricted, from ab- (away) and solvere (to loosen). It reached English by 1300s as absolute. Settled as the English word for something complete and unrestricted. Today, absolute means complete and total, without exception or qualification.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient absolutus "loosened, unrestricted", loosened, unrestricted, from ab- (away) and solvere (to loosen).
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s absolute "complete, total, and unrestricted", settled as the English word for something complete and unrestricted.