Search the Dictionary

Freedom from engrossing occupation; leisure. Disengagement is absolutely necessary to enjoyment. Bp. Butler.

on of, control, etc., especially in the phrase at, or in, the disposal of. The sole and absolute disposal of him an his concerns. South.

One who, or that which, disposes; a regulator; a director; a bestower. Absolute lord and disposer of all things. Barrow.

To be extravagant, wasteful, or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; to engage in dissipation.

Wasteful of health, money, etc., in the pursuit of pleasure; dissolute; intemperate. A life irregular and dissipated. Johnson.

A dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc., are squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in vicious indulgence, as late hours, riotous living, etc.; dissoluteness. To reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance. P. Henry.

Corruption of morals; dissipation; dissoluteness. [Obs. or R.] Atterbury.

a the same syllables are used by mane as a scale pattern, while the tones in respect to absolute pitch are named from the first seven letters of the alphabet.

Ownership of land; an estate or patrimony which one has in his own right; absolute proprietorship; paramount or sovereign ownership. Public domain, the territory belonging to a State or to the general government; public lands. [U.S.]in the public domain may be used by anyone wihout restriction. -- Right of eminent dom…

The act of giving or bestowing; a grant. After donation there an absolute change and alienation of the property of the thing given. South.

Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as, downright atheism. The downright impossibilities charged upon it. South. Gloomy fancies which in her amounted to downright insanity. Prescott. -- Down"right`ly, adv. -- Down"right`ness, n.

ublic command or ordinance by the sovereign power; the proclamation of a law made by an absolute authority, as if by the very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman emperors; the edicts of the French monarch. It stands as an edict in destiny. Shak. Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by…

Raised; lifted up; -- a term applied to what is also called the absolute superlative, denoting a high or intense degree of a quality, but not excluding the idea that an equal degree may exist in other cases.

Having a disposition for enterprise; characterized by enterprise; resolute, active or prompt to attempt; as, an enterprising man or firm. -- En"ter*pri`sing*ly, adv.

on, in order to find its true position as resulting from its actual and unequal motion. Absolute equation. See under Absolute. -- Equation box, or Equational box, a system of differential gearing used in spinning machines for regulating the twist of the yarn. It resembles gearing used in equation clocks for showing ap…

lsulphuric and sulphuric (thionic) acids, obtained by the action of sulphur trioxide on absolute alcohol.

to the internal revenue system in the United States. Abbot. An excise . . . is a fixed, absolute, and direct charge laid on merchandise, products, or commodities. 11 Allen's (Mass. ) Rpts.

An extreme state or condition; hence, calamity, danger, distress, etc. "Resolute in most extremes." Shak.

To tell lies; to violate the truth. It is absolutely and universally unlawful to lie and falsify. South.